Litton Das '50-50' for West Indies Test Opener as Bangladesh Weigh Hip Injury Risk

Bangladesh's preparations for the opening Test against West Indies have been clouded by uncertainty over the fitness of Litton Das, with the team management insisting on Sunday that they still cannot say whether the wicketkeeper-batter will be available for the series opener at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on October 28.

Litton, who has been recovering from a hip injury that kept him out of the recently concluded tri-nation ODI series involving Zimbabwe and Afghanistan, batted with ease at the BCB Academy premises and played some big shots in the nets — an encouraging sign that he has made considerable progress in his recovery. But the sight of him moving freely was not enough to convince the selectors, who struck a note of caution over his participation.

Selectors Keep Their Options Open

“He is in a state where we cannot say he is available or unavailable for the opening Test against West Indies,” a member of the selection panel said. “To be honest he is 50-50. But we will wait till the end and hope he can recover sufficiently to play the series opener as it's very important for us.”

Cricbuzz understands that the inflammation of a gluteal muscle tendon in his hip joint, which ruled him out of the tri-nation series, has subsided and that the pain has also reduced. Even so, Litton has struggled with injury-related discomfort in recent times, and the BCB medical team continues to work on his recovery.

It is understood that his body remains stiff due to limited mobility in certain joints, largely stemming from a chronic workload. He also has some muscular weaknesses and is yet to regain full strength in the affected areas. Those concerns prompted the BCB medical team to skip his scheduled fitness test on October 24.

Not Yet 100 Percent

Another member of the team management explained the cautious approach, noting that a full recovery is not strictly required for him to be considered — but that he is not quite there yet.

“Litton is able to do his functional training now, but functional training doesn't mean he is 100% fit. 100% is not really needed, basically, if we can at least cover his minimum requirements, that's why we might be taking some time,” the official said.

The decision will involve discussions between the team management and senior BCB officials, given the possibility that a recurrence of the injury could sideline him for an extended period. While Litton is understood to be keen to play, the management must weigh whether to risk fielding him before he has fully recovered.

The picture had looked more positive earlier in the month. As reported on October 19, scans on Litton's hip joint found no significant problem, with the BCB medical staff monitoring his progress in the days that followed. Those scans offered encouragement ahead of the Test series, though his ongoing stiffness and muscular weaknesses have since kept his involvement in doubt.

What Lies Ahead

Bangladesh will play the second Test against West Indies in Sylhet from November 5. Following the home series, they are scheduled to tour South Africa for two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is, with that tour set to begin on November 15.

With the series opener just days away, Bangladesh will be hoping their senior campaigner can prove his fitness in time — but they appear prepared to wait until the last possible moment before making the call.