Litton Takes Over as New ODI Captain, Replaces Miraz

Bangla Press Desk: Wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das will replace Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the One Day International captain and continue at least till next year's Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, announced Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal on Wednesday following a board meeting at the BCB headquarters in Mirpur.

Revealing the decision, Tamim said that the board had opted to move away from having a single skipper across all three formats, instead reverting to a two-captain system split between white- and red-ball cricket.

"I believe that we should have two leaders. And the board believes we should have two captains. A white-ball and a red-ball skipper," Tamim told reporters.

Litton will lead the white-ball side, while Najmul Hossain Shanto continues as the red-ball captain. 

Towhid Hridoy has been named vice-captain for white-ball cricket, while the red-ball deputy - Miraz - remains unchanged.

Tamim was quick to praise Miraz's tenure as captain, pointing out that he had won four of his last five series in charge.

"Miraz was an exceptionally successful captain... he has done well," Tamim said, but added that Miraz's individual form, especially with the bat, had dipped below the level Bangladesh has come to expect from him.

"I think he's still doing the bowling part quite well. But as soon as he's back in his full rhythm, Bangladesh will win a lot of games," he noted.

Tamim added that he had personally spoken to Miraz about the decision.

"I had a discussion with Miraz, he understands the point... with agreement from both sides, we have decided this," he explained.

Miraz was appointed 50-over captain for a 12-month period in June last year, replacing Shanto, who had at one point led the side across all three formats.

Under Miraz, Bangladesh played 20 ODIs, winning 10.

His reign began roughly, with Bangladesh losing five of the first six matches and conceding two consecutive series.

The team then found form, winning four straight series at home against the West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia, before suffering an away series defeat to Zimbabwe.

Litton previously led Bangladesh in seven ODIs, including a 2022 series victory over India where the Tigers won 2-1 in the absence of an injured Tamim.

He also skippered the side in two ODIs against Afghanistan in 2023, after Tamim's sudden mid-series retirement, and again in two matches against New Zealand that year in the absence of Shakib Al Hasan. Source: daily sun

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