Skipper Litton singles out Shamim’s carefree ways. Is that a warning to others?

Litton Das did something uncharacteristic of a Bangladesh captain after his side's 16-run defeat in the first T20I of the three-match series against the West Indies in Chattogram on Monday.

He spoke his mind.

At the post-match presentation, the skipper did not hide behind the usual diplomatic lines. Instead, he voiced frustration at Shamim Hossain's reckless batting.

"On the batting side, I think we lost too many wickets in the Powerplay. I was very upset regarding Shamim Hossain's batting. He has to think about it; you can't come and just enjoy the batting all the time. You have to take responsibility," Litton said in the post-match presentation.

For a Bangladesh captain, this was a rare moment of directness spurring from dislike of what he saw. Litton stepped outside the usual script of support and "we'll try to correct our mistakes" and pinpointed exactly where the team lost its footing, both in the Powerplay and in the temperament.

Chasing a modest 165 for three, Bangladesh lost their top three within five overs, bringing Shamim to the crease at number five . His stay lasted just four balls -- three dots and a single -- before his wild hoick across the line saw him miss the length and line, leaving the stumps shattered. And Bangladesh were left reeling at 41-4 inside the fifth over. It was a moment that perhaps summed up Shamim's game and for once, the captain wasn't willing to let it slide.

It was the same brand of irresponsibility that saw Shamim axed after the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. Back then, the problem wasn't talent but temperament -- a failure to read the game and an unwillingness to adjust. When the situation demanded composure, he offered irresponsible chaos, often leaving the Tigers in deeper trenches and eventually on the wrong end of the results during that period.

Fast forward to 2025, and Bangladesh find themselves grappling with the same problem in Shamim. Last December, his quickfire cameos -- 27 and 35 not out -- helped Bangladesh clinch a three-match T20I series in the West Indies. The next notable performance came almost seven months and eight matches later, when his 27-ball 48 guided the Tigers to victory in the second T20I against Sri Lanka.

During that period, Shamim had little to offer in successive series defeats to the UAE and Pakistan. Apart from a 14 not out against Sri Lanka in the first T20I, all seven of his other scores were single digits. Twelve innings have passed since that 48, and Shamim has little to show for it except a 42 not out off 34 balls in a losing cause against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup last month.

The long-standing notion is that Shamim thrives late in the innings, free from the burden of calculation of overs or runs while throwing his bat around without sensing consequence. But how long can that theory hold when he can't hold his own in situations where extravagance is not needed?

Shamim, though, remains one of the few beneficiaries of Bangladesh's dried up pipeline -- a compromised option who continues to feature simply because there are no better alternatives or players who could push him for a place in the eleven. For now, he enjoys that safety net.

Litton is a new captain who is on a run of four straight series wins. Hence, Litton's bold statement has seemed to draw a line in the sand. It's no longer just about Shamim's failures, it's about accountability. The question is how long Bangladesh can afford to protect players who refuse to grow, and how long captains must bite their tongues before demanding better.