Litton Das promises full support as Bangladesh’s ‘16th member’ in Champions Trophy
The experienced opener, who was left out due to poor form, took to social media on Thursday to express his emotions, assuring fans that despite his absence, he would be Bangladesh’s biggest supporter.
Litton Das may not be part of Bangladesh's 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy, but he has declared himself the team's '16th member,' vowing to support them in every moment of the tournament.
The experienced opener, who was left out due to poor form, took to social media on 13 February to express his emotions, assuring fans that despite his absence, he would be Bangladesh's biggest supporter.
"Best wishes to this incredible team for the Champions Trophy. I believe they will give their best in this prestigious tournament. Let's show the world how the Tigers play!" he wrote.
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"I couldn't secure a spot in the squad, but that has only made me the team's biggest supporter. I will cheer for every run, wicket, and catch. Your 16th member will be right there with you, just in a different role."
Liton's omission did not come as a surprise. His form had been a major concern, with no fifties in his last 13 ODI innings and failing to reach double digits in his last seven. During Bangladesh's tour of the West Indies in December, he managed just six runs across three matches. His struggles continued in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), where he was even dropped from Dhaka Capitals' XI for one game. While he briefly found form with a century and two fifties, his inconsistency remained an issue, with failures in his last three innings before the squad was finalised.
Acknowledging his exclusion, Litton admitted, "It's open knowledge why I wasn't selected. If you check the media, you'll find the answer—my performance wasn't up to the mark, and you all reported it. It's a basic fact."
"The selectors decided that I don't fit into the team at the moment, so I'm not there. If they see improvement in my game and think I deserve a place, they might bring me back. But it's entirely their decision. Right now, my full focus is on the BPL, and I'm trying to perform well."
Despite missing out, Liton's support for the squad remains unwavering. He expressed confidence in the players, expecting them to deliver their best on the global stage.
Bangladesh will depart for Dubai on 13 February, with Najmul Hossain Shanto leading the side and Mehidy Hasan Miraz serving as vice-captain.
The Champions Trophy begins on 19 February, with Bangladesh set to face India on 20 February, New Zealand on 24 February, and hosts Pakistan on 27 February. The final two matches will be played in Rawalpindi.
