Najmul Hossain Shanto stands in for under-fire Litton Das at the crease.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain emphasized on Monday (March 25) the importance of supporting Litton Das during his challenging times, acknowledging him as one of the team’s top batters.
Litton faced criticism for his dismissal in the second innings, succumbing to a nothing shot with just 15 minutes remaining for stumps.
Walking in at 37/4, he opted for an aggressive approach and lost his wicket to pacer Vishwa Fernando on the first ball.
This setback dashed any hopes of Bangladesh mounting a late comeback in the first Test, especially with the absence of Mushfiqur Rahim due to a finger injury, leaving the team with six specialist batters.
Litton’s recent form has been concerning, having been dropped from the third ODI after two ducks in the preceding series against Sri Lanka.
However, Najmul remains optimistic about his future performance.
Addressing reporters after their 328-run loss to Sri Lanka in the series opener at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Najmul expressed his confidence in Litton’s abilities, stating, “He hasn’t had a great time lately but we should be with him during this time, starting from the coaching staff to the players.”
Regarding Litton’s dismissal, Najmul refrained from extensive commentary, indicating that such dismissals are unusual in Test cricket.
He emphasized the need for better shot selection and planning from both Litton and the batting coach to avoid similar instances in the future.
Najmul dismissed suggestions of complacency despite a strong start on the first day of the Test, attributing Sri Lanka’s remarkable comeback to their batsmen’s resilience.
He stressed the importance of learning from the defeat and improving their game for the upcoming matches.
Looking ahead to the second Test, Najmul expressed optimism about the potential return of Shakib al Hasan, noting that his experience would be beneficial for the team.
The concluding Test match of the series is slated to take place at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram from March 30.
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