Bangladesh T20 captain Litton Das has voiced strong frustration after Shamim Hossain Patwary was omitted from the squad for the upcoming three match series against Ireland, beginning on 27 November in Chattogram, without any prior communication from the selectors. Shamim, who scored 0, 1 and 1 in the recent T20Is against West Indies, was left out despite this being Bangladesh’s final bilateral series before the T20 World Cup.
Speaking at the pre series press conference in Chattogram on Wednesday, Litton made it clear that the issue for him was not only the decision itself but the way it was made. He said that he had received no notice from the selection panel and that the process bypassed him entirely. According to Litton, he had always understood that a captain is kept informed about selection plans, including who is coming in and who is going out.
Litton said that having Shamim in the squad would have been beneficial, adding that he saw no clear reason behind the omission and still had not been given an explanation. His comments highlighted a growing disconnect between team management and selection. When asked whether he had contacted the board to seek clarity, Litton revealed that his role had already been defined for him in no uncertain terms.
He explained that the board had told him he must work only with the squad provided, with no role in influencing player choices. This, he said, went against his understanding of what a captain’s responsibilities usually involve, including contributing to squad planning. Instead, he learned recently that his job is simply to produce performances with whichever group is handed to him.
Bangladesh will host Ireland for three T20Is in Chattogram on 27 and 29 November and 2 December.
