Senior players rested as Litton sees opportunity for youngsters

Just ahead of the new series, Bangladesh have come forward with a shifted mindset, where long-term planning is now being given equal importance alongside immediate results.

While preparing for the T20I series against New Zealand, Bangladesh captain Litton Das has shared his broader vision, hinting at the process of team building for the 2028 T20 World Cup. Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Chattogram, he made it clear that the focus is not only on the present series but also on long-term goals. In this regard, he said, ‘The World Cup is a long way away. There is still enough time to grow players. This is a good opportunity to give them game time.’

Questions were raised about the absence of key pacers Nahid Rana and Mustafizur Rahman, but the captain does not see it as a setback. Instead, he views this phase as an opportunity to give chances to new players. He also explained that workload management and long-term career planning are behind such decisions. In this context, Litton said, ‘Both of them are not here; they are very important for Bangladesh. I don’t want them to keep playing continuously and end up getting injured. There are ODIs ahead and Test matches as well. So, we are starting to make some changes in certain areas.’

Two newcomers, Abdul Gaffar Saklain and Ripon Mondol, have been included in the Bangladesh T20 squad for this series, and the captain is optimistic about them. He believes that match experience is the most important factor in building confidence and mental strength for young players at the international level. Explaining his approach to player development, Litton said, ‘Playing even a single match for the country gives a lot of confidence. Those who get opportunities will gradually develop.’

However, the Bangladesh captain does not want to limit the approach to experimentation alone. He believes that maintaining a winning mentality is equally important along with team building. Emphasizing squad depth and consistent performance, Litton said, ‘We have to strengthen the bench, and we also have to win matches. Both are important.’