Bangladesh captain Litton Das dedicated his team’s 2–1 ODI series win over Sri Lanka to the martyrs of July, calling the achievement a “source of pride” for the squad and the country.
Speaking at the post-match press conference following Bangladesh’s five-wicket victory in the decider in Colombo, Litton said, “We are in the month of July, a month of mourning for our country. So I want to dedicate this win to the martyrs of July.”
The ODI series win is Bangladesh’s first away against Sri Lanka in bilateral cricket, marking a positive turnaround following their 2–1 defeat in the T20Is earlier in the tour.
“The way the team performed today, I’m very happy,” Litton said. “Especially after the way we played in the T20 series, the response was really good. Everyone showed character.”
Litton, who was named Player of the Series after scoring 114 runs in three innings, emphasised the importance of team effort over individual accolades.
“I didn’t think about becoming Player of the Series. But when the team wins and you contribute, that feels good,” he said. “The credit goes to everyone. The bowlers were excellent, and the fielding today was also sharp.”
Bangladesh’s bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 235, setting up what turned out to be a comfortable chase. Litton said the bowlers “set the tone early” and highlighted the impact of Mahedi Hasan, who was brought in for the final match.
“Mahedi was brought in today and he bowled very well. It’s not easy to come into a decider and perform like that. That’s a positive sign for us,” he said.
Looking ahead, Litton said the series win would help boost the team’s confidence. “We have big dreams. This win will help our cricket and the next generation. Hopefully this result will give us belief going forward.”
He also added a note about the conditions and their decision at the toss: “If we had won the toss, we probably would have batted first too. But our bowlers made good use of the conditions. We had a plan, and it worked.”
While the victory was significant in terms of results, Litton made clear that its timing gave it added meaning.
“This was not just another match for us,” he said. “We’re proud to represent Bangladesh, and to win in July makes it even more meaningful. We always remember our history.”
Bangladesh now return home having ended the tour on a high note, with a performance that combined discipline, composure and a sense of purpose.