The T20I World Cup kicks off in just 18 days. India, New Zealand, and Australia have already named their squads ahead of the global tournament. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the World Cup 15-man squad on Tuesday, at the cricket board's office in Mirpur, making them the 19th team to do so.
Pace-bowling all-rounder Saifuddin is a notable absentee from the 15-man squad. Pacer Hasan Mahmud and all-rounder Afif Hossain have been included in the reserves. However, right-handed batsman Litton Das, who has been struggling with the bat recently, has been included in the main squad despite averaging a meagre 13 runs from six outings in the T20 format this year.
Litton's inclusion, considering he's one of the national team's best batsmen in a World Cup year, is certainly a cause for concern. Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Lipu explained the reasoning behind Litton's selection, suggesting the selectors have little choice but to trust him.
"Litton isn't just an opener, but his wicket-keeping abilities also come into play," said the Chief Selector. "We need to carry two wicketkeepers, and while we discussed victory at length, ultimately, despite his recent lack of form, we have to have faith in Litton.
He's been working hard, and the coaching staff are trying to rebuild his confidence even though he hasn't played the last two matches."
