Litton Das, a batsman and wicketkeeper for Bangladesh, is seriously doubtful for the opening Test match against the West Indies, which is set to start on October 28 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. His hip injury, which prevented him from playing in the just finished tri-nation ODI series between Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, is the cause of the uncertainty.
On Sunday, October 25, Litton Das was observed batting in the nets at the BCB Academy. He made some big shots, demonstrating significant progress in his recuperation. The management of the Bangladeshi team, however, was hesitant to guaranty his availability for the first game of the series. One of the selection committee members provided a measured evaluation.
We are unable to determine his availability for the first Test match against the West Indies due to his current condition. He is 50/50, to be honest. But since it’s crucial for us, we’ll wait until the very end and hope he can heal enough to play the series opener,” the selector said.
What kind of hip injury did Litton Das sustain?
Litton Das’s hip joint’s gluteal muscle tendon inflammation, which prevented him from participating in the tri-nation series, has lessened, as has the pain. Despite this improvement, his body is still rigid because of restricted range of motion in some joints, a condition primarily brought on by long-term, chronic workload. Additionally, he has muscular weaknesses and has not yet fully recovered strength in those areas.
Because of these worries, the BCB medical staff decided not to conduct his planned fitness test on October 24 because they believed he wasn’t yet prepared for a formal evaluation. One of the team managers gave a calm explanation of the circumstances. Although Litton can now perform his functional training, this does not imply that he is fully fit. The official told the aforementioned source, “We might be taking some time if we can at least cover his minimum requirements; 100% is not really needed.”
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Litton Das is reportedly eager to play, but team management must balance that desire against the possibility of a recurrence that could keep him out of action for a long time. Senior BCB officials and team management will discuss any decision regarding his availability; the timeline is especially tight given the amount of cricket that lies ahead.
Bangladesh will have another chance to field Litton when the series shifts to Sylhet for the Test against the West Indies on November 5, should he miss the first Test at Sher-e-Bangla. Bangladesh will tour South Africa for two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is after the home series. The tour is scheduled to start on November 15. His availability for all three formats of the South Africa assignment could therefore be impacted if the hip injury recurs during or right before the first Test.
