Liton Das sets eye on long term stability as captain

Published at : 13 May 2025, 09:00 am
Liton Das sets eye on long term stability as captain

Liton Das is keen to set a long term plan to achieve a bigger success in the T20 format after getting the captaincy as permanent basis in the shortest format of cricket.
 
His captaincy stint will start with the upcoming two-match T20 series against United Arab Emirates (UAE), a series that Liton said his side definitely wants to win but they will keep the future in mind also.

"Naturally, captaincy for a longer period is a positive thing and it helps a captain set a long term plan," Liton said while addressing the media today.

"When you get a long-term opportunity, you can think about a lot of things. Now the question is, how well can I organize my team during this period? I'm also quite optimistic that there will be a long-term plan."

Liton has previously led Bangladesh in various formats on an interim basis. He also found some success in that short stint with the 3-0 win on Caribbean soil playing a vital role in getting the captaincy for longer period.

But the captaincy came at a moment when he hasn't been at his best with the willow.

Even when Bangladesh whitewashed West Indies in three-match T20 series is December last year, Liton was off colour with the bat.

There is sense of belief that his off form may have an adverse impact on his captaincy.

Liton, however, played down the pressure, saying that captaincy responsibility may play a role in getting back to form.

"There is no pressure. Even when I was not the captain, my performance was bad, not that it will be bad now," he said.

"This (captaincy) can be a plus point. I believe that those who think positively, even if they fail for some days, the results will come. I am in that place. I am thinking positively so that I can bring the result in my favour."

He laid emphasize on to be focused on future, not just a single series.

"All the planning I had before was for the immediate series. Since now the opportunity has come for the long term, my thoughts will now be focused on the future," he said.

"Now I know that I have a goal for a longer period. Of course, the series (UAE) will still be there, but the future will also be in mind."

The 30-year-old wicket-keeper batter urged the teammates to play with full responsibility.

"If the Bangladesh team is to move forward, the cricketers will have to fulfill the responsibility. The team will move forward only if we play well," he remarked.

"First of all, our players will have to fulfill their own responsibilities well. As much as I will communicate with the BCB, I will do more with the players - what they want, where they need to improve. I have just got the captaincy. As time goes by I will be able to get used to it."

Mushfiqur to play for Fortune Barishal in BPL 2024

Published at : 24 September 2023, 03:42 pm
Mushfiqur to play for Fortune Barishal in BPL 2024

Bangladeshi wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim is set to feature for Fortune Barishal in the forthcoming Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

 

Mushfiqur had played for Sylhet Strikers in the last edition. His price was fixed at 80 lakhs in the players' draft according to the category. Which means he was in 'A' category.

The top category player will play along with other star players like Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Khaled Ahmed in Fortune Barishal.

Neymar quits PSG to sign for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal

Published at : 20 September 2023, 05:06 pm
Neymar quits PSG to sign for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal

Neymar said he was relishing “new challenges and opportunities in new places” after he joined Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal from Paris Saint-Germain on a two-year deal Tuesday, becoming the latest big name lured to the oil-rich Gulf state.

The Brazil forward, 31, ends a six-year stay in the French capital and follows in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Sadio Mane in swapping Europe for the Middle East.

“I have achieved a lot in Europe and enjoyed special times, but I have always wanted to be a global player and test myself with new challenges and opportunities in new places,” Neymar said in a statement from the Saudi Pro League.

“I want to write new sporting history, and the Saudi Pro League has tremendous energy and quality players at the moment,” he added.

Neymar ‘in negotiations’ over Saudi move as Mbappe returns to PSG good books

Published at : 20 September 2023, 05:05 pm
Neymar ‘in negotiations’ over Saudi move as Mbappe returns to PSG good books

Neymar was “in negotiations” on Sunday to become the latest football superstar to decamp for Saudi Arabia, leaving Paris Saint-Germain just as Kylian Mbappe was brought back in from the cold by the French champions.

A source close to PSG told AFP that 31-year-old Neymar “no longer figures in the club or manager’s plans” with the Brazilian immediately linked to Al-Hilal in the Gulf kingdom.

Another source in Saudi Arabia said that “direct negotiations” between Neymar’s agents and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) were ongoing.

PSG get better of Dortmund in Champions League opener

Published at : 20 September 2023, 05:03 pm
PSG get better of Dortmund in Champions League opener

Paris Saint-Germain got their Champions League campaign off to a winning start on Tuesday as a Kylian Mbappe penalty set them up for a 2-0 victory over Borussia Dortmund at the Parc des Princes.

The French champions had dominated the first half without overly troubling the Dortmund defence, but they went ahead four minutes after the break when Mbappe scored a spot-kick awarded for a Niklas Suele handball.

Achraf Hakimi added a memorable second, and PSG could have won the Group F encounter by a far more handsome margin in the end.

The result immediately puts them in control of the group, after AC Milan and Newcastle United drew 0-0 earlier, and coach Luis Enrique will hope they can build on this performance when they visit the English side next in a fortnight.

"It was an almost perfect evening," said Luis Enrique.