Litton Das likely to keep wickets in one-off Test against India

Dhaka, June 8: With skipper Mushfiqur Rahim nursing a sprained finger, young Litton Das is likely to be Bangladesh's wicketkeeper in the one off-Test against India, starting Wednesday.

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Rahim had injured his ring finger during the Khulna Test against Pakistan in April. Even though Rahim was seen batting in the nets during the team's training in Fatullah on Saturday, Litton practiced keeping wickets.

Rahim's place in the playing XI as captain and batsman is still confirmed, but the recent developments have indicated that Litton may don the wicketkeeping gloves.

Litton, 20, may also become the first player to keep wickets in the national team after Mushfiqur took over the job in 2007.

Rahim has been struggling behind the stumps ever since he dropped a catch in the first Test against Pakistan.

Rahim was also a part of the five players who were rested in the first-class game between the end of the Pakistan series and the start of the India Test. But despite getting time to recover, Rahim's fitness is still in doubt and Litton might just get lucky.

Litton, who has been in Bangladesh's squad since April after he was picked for the lone T20I and the two-match Test series against Pakistan, is just keeping his fingers crossed.

"It is not that I am excited," Litton said. "There is always the plan to be prepared to play in any situation. I would always be hoping to play a match. I will consider myself lucky if I do get a chance, because India is one of the top three teams in the world.

"It is a big opportunity for me. There cannot be a bigger dream than performing well. I would want to give as much as the team wants, in whichever position. I am just training as I do."

Litton was picked in the Bangladesh squad against Pakistan on the back of a stellar 2014-15 first-class season, where he was among three batsmen to make score than 1000 runs.

A top-order batsman, Litton opened the batting for Rangpur and East Zone, but will have to play down the order if selected for the upcoming Test.

"I think an opener has to face spinners if he is to play a long innings. I don't think I will have a problem playing down the order. I have been opening for the last 2-3 years. At the start of my career I used to bat at No 6 or 7. The situation will tell me what I have to do, whether to go after the bowling or bat patiently," he said.

PTI