CricBengal.com | Cricket
Bangladesh batter Litton Das remains doubtful for the opening Test against West Indies despite making progress in his recovery from a hip injury. Although he batted comfortably in the nets on Sunday, the Bangladesh team management has yet to confirm his availability for the first match.
The opening Test of the two-match series is scheduled to begin on October 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
Litton’s Availability Still 50-50
Litton was seen batting at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Academy premises on Sunday, facing deliveries comfortably and playing several big shots. His performance offered encouraging signs of recovery, but questions remain over whether he is fit enough for Test cricket.
A member of the selection panel described his chances of playing the series opener as 50-50, indicating that the team would wait until the final stages before making a decision.
Litton missed the recently concluded tri-nation ODI series involving Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Afghanistan because of inflammation in a gluteal muscle tendon around his hip joint. The inflammation has reportedly subsided, and the pain has also reduced.
However, the batter has continued to experience injury-related discomfort. Concerns remain over restricted mobility in certain joints, muscular weaknesses and his inability to regain full strength in the affected areas.
These issues prompted the BCB medical team to skip his scheduled fitness test on October 24.
Fitness Concerns Remain
According to a member of the team management, Litton has resumed functional training. However, being able to complete functional exercises does not necessarily mean that a player is fully fit.
The management is assessing whether he has met the minimum physical requirements needed to participate in the opening Test.
Litton is understood to be keen to play, but the team must weigh his availability against the risk of aggravating the injury. A recurrence could force him to spend an extended period on the sidelines.
The final decision could involve discussions between the team management and senior BCB officials as Bangladesh weigh the importance of the series opener against the batter’s long-term fitness.
Bangladesh Face a Busy International Schedule
The second Test against West Indies is scheduled to begin in Sylhet on November 5. Bangladesh will then travel to South Africa for a multi-format tour featuring two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is, scheduled to begin on November 15.
With a demanding international schedule ahead, Bangladesh are likely to approach Litton’s recovery cautiously.
For now, his participation in the opening Test remains uncertain. While his progress in the nets is encouraging, the team management will need to assess his fitness before making a final call.
