Have BCB finally found out a way to get the best out of Litton Das?
The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter picked up scores of 73, 125*, 13 and 70 in his last four innings, three of them coming after Bangladesh’s Champions Trophy squad was announced on the 12th earlier this month.
Litton Das has returned to form with the bat and while that may be good news for his Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) franchise, it is not helping his case with the national team as far as Champions Trophy selection goes.
The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter picked up scores of 73, 125*, 13 and 70 in his last four innings, three of them coming after Bangladesh's Champions Trophy squad was announced on the 12th earlier this month.
The innings of 70 in the last match by Litton came from 48 balls including four boundaries and as many sixes as Dhaka Capitals posted 196-6 in their 20 overs and that proved to be too many for Sylhet Strikers who fell six runs short.
Litton himself has admitted that he is not surprised by his non-selection in the Champions Trophy squad given his ODI performances in the recent past.
Although different formats, they are both played with the white ball and Bangladesh's top-order problems are well documented, especially since Tamim Iqbal has not been part of the team.
Dhaka Capitals captain Thisara Perera however heaped praise on Litton as his batting has been helping the team win and keeping them alive for a top-four finish.
"The good players always come back very strongly. That's why Litton Das has come back to form. As I said, everyone has to face failure, as a bowler we have so many chances, but as a batter, you only have one chance. If you get out, you can't stay. That's cricket. But as a batter, I think Litton Das is very strong," Perera said in the post-match press conference.
The former Sri Lanka captain went on to add that he felt his side batted we and put up a total that was above par.
"This is a 160 wicket. That is why I told Litton to hang around and if we get the ball in our zone then we can hit. We rotated the strike regularly, which is more important."
There are two ways to view things though as far as Litton is concerned.
There can be praise on the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) selectors for finally figuring out a way to get a player who has struggled with focus at times and took his place for granted, to finally find the fire in his belly.
Or it could just be a case of them missing out on an in-form player who is going through one of his purple patches.
A player who can win the match on his own and the national team is missing out on it.
Whatever the case may be, Litton can look back on this moment and use it as an eye-opener because this was a big tournament he would have been a part of and could have helped his side win.
This could also be a signal to the rest of the Bangladesh players from the selectors and BCB that no place should be taken for granted.
Though, how merit-based the selection of some of the players like Parvez Hossain Emon have been, can be up for debate.
Now Litton will have to watch on the sidelines, and his fans will have to wait too.