'What happened was not good for cricket': Litton says rift with Lipu resolved

On the eve of the T20I series against Ireland last week in Chattogram, Litton Das vented his frustration over the squad selection carried out by the selectors. He publicly revealed that Shamim Hossain had been dropped without his knowledge, triggering widespread debate.

Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Lipu later responded with his own clarification. The rare back-and-forth created a quiet stir both inside and outside the team. But after coming from behind to win the series, Bangladesh now appear to be a far more settled dressing room. Captain Litton says both sides made mistakes in the heat of the moment, and the matter has since been resolved.

Shamim was left out of the squad for the first two T20Is, with Mahidul Islam Ankon brought in instead. Litton strongly objected to the decision and openly voiced his disagreement with the selectors. At one stage, the right-hander even hinted that he was unsure whether he would continue as captain until the World Cup.

His remarks were directed not only at the selection panel but also at the board. According to him, he had been told by the board to simply accept the squad he was given. Amid the tension, Bangladesh lost the opening match on November 27, but with victories in the next two games, a degree of calm returned. In Bangladesh cricket, wins have traditionally served as the most effective bandage, easing discomfort and temporarily sweeping problems under the carpet.

After securing the series with an eight-wicket win on Tuesday, Litton was again asked about the turbulence of the previous week. He acknowledged that the situation had not been ideal for the country's cricket.

"Look, a lot happened in the heat of the moment from both sides. But what happened was not good for cricket. This won't happen again in the future. And afterwards, we sat down and talked things through properly. That was a positive thing," he said in the post-match press conference on Tuesday.

Lipu travelled to Chattogram ahead of the third T20I and met with the captain and coach at the team hotel. Litton said everything returned to normal following that discussion.

As he left the press conference that day, Litton had sounded unsure about continuing as World Cup captain. On Tuesday, he made it clear he has moved past those doubts and is committed to leading the side at February's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

"I don't know why that talk came up. I didn't even tell the press anything. No, no, it's nothing like that. It's not something any cricket player would do (give up the captaincy at this stage). And I won't either. I've been pulling this team forward for so long, bringing it to this stage. The team is settled now. And every player dreams of the World Cup. From that perspective, no, stepping aside is never an option."

Bangladesh have no international engagements before the T20 World Cup next February. During this period, the players will turn their focus to the Bangladesh Premier League.