“‘As a captain… I’m sorry, I can’t say anything more,’” Liton Das said, revealing both his frustration and helplessness as a leader.
With just 65 runs in his last seven innings, and three of them ending in ducks, it’s natural for many to wonder why Liton Das was so angry about a batsman being left out.
The answer is simple: cricket is not just a game of statistics. Team selection is not determined solely by numbers; there is a process for including or excluding players. Liton’s outburst reflects not just frustration at one player, Shamim Hossain, but the rigid system behind it. At the same time, it gives a glimpse into how cricket is managed in the country.
Even casual followers of Bangladesh cricket now know the story. On the eve of the Ireland series, Liton Das exploded in a press conference, questioning the selectors over Shamim’s exclusion and the way the process was handled. The T20 captain also revealed that the board told him he would have to play with whatever squad was provided.
Liton started with the issue of Shamim. He openly said that the selectors decided to drop Shamim without informing him. However, chief selector Gazi Ashraf Hosain stated that they had discussed Shamim’s form with Liton before making the decision.
There is a gap between the two accounts, and it’s hard for outsiders to know who is completely truthful. One thing is clear: both the captain and coach Phil Simmons wanted Shamim in the squad, but the selectors did not include him.
Why was Liton so insistent on having Shamim, despite his recent form?
The answer goes beyond statistics. Shamim is a rare type of batsman in Bangladesh cricket. There is currently no one else in the national team with his style. He is aggressive, fearless, and capable of innovative shots at any stage of a match. Such players are inherently risky; they play with the constant threat of losing their wicket, yet they do not fear it. Including a batsman like Shamim is always a calculated gamble.
Liton Das was willing to take that gamble.
In most teams, dropping a player like Shamim after a dip in form wouldn’t have caused this level of protest from the captain. But in Bangladesh, there is no one else like him. Liton knows very well that with the T20 World Cup just two and a half months away, he will need Shamim. This series is the last chance for Shamim to regain form and confidence before the World Cup.
Liton didn’t go into all the details at the press conference, but the cricketing reasons are clear.
There is also the captain’s responsibility. A player like Shamim needs the support of the coach and captain, a system that encourages him to play freely and with confidence. Liton Das and Phil Simmons would have assured Shamim of that support. Liton may have told him, “Just play your game. Don’t worry about your place in the team. I’ve got your back.”
Naturally, this was why Liton made such a strong demand to the selectors. When he couldn’t keep that promise, he expressed his helplessness publicly: “‘As a captain… I’m sorry… I really can’t do anything for him. When he underperforms in two or three series, I should be there for him. I am truly sorry I couldn’t back him.’”
This is where the selectors failed to understand the gravity of the situation.
The chief selector said they were aware of the captain’s opinion, but the decision to drop Shamim was theirs. They focused only on statistics and perhaps didn’t realize how crucial it was for Shamim to regain form before the World Cup. They questioned the way he got out but maybe didn’t consider that players of his style often get dismissed that way.
Beyond all the reasoning, selectors sometimes need to see the bigger picture. On the field, the captain manages the team, has commitments to teammates, and follows long-term plans for building the squad. Respect and authority in the dressing room are earned through these processes.
Selectors should prioritize the captain’s perspective in such cases. Liton Das did not get that consideration. Shamim may have felt unsupported, and a message of uncertainty went out to the entire team. If a captain cannot provide confidence, can teammates trust him fully?
From a cricketing and batting-style perspective, Shamim’s exclusion sends a risky message. Dropping him to “teach a lesson” could backfire. If numbers alone were important, Shamim could have played safe—but then he wouldn’t stand out from the rest. He may have been excluded for trying to score 30 runs in 12 balls instead of playing a safer 25-ball 30-run innings.
This doesn’t mean he should always play despite failures—there comes a time to drop any player. But when the captain has a specific plan for the player, especially with the World Cup in mind, leaving him out in the final series before the tournament undermines those plans.
Team selection disputes, when aired publicly, damage dressing room morale and the overall cricketing environment. Responsibility lies with both the selectors and the BCB cricket management, who failed to prevent or manage the situation.
Liton Das said he didn’t feel insulted, but he did feel overlooked, underappreciated as a captain, and diminished in front of teammates. Multiple frustrations—disappointment, anger, and helplessness—fueled his outburst.
