Liton to captain Bangladesh in the final T20I against New Zealand
The team will be without the big five of Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah for the first time in a decade.
Liton Das will be the captain of Bangladesh in the third and final T20I against New Zealand.
With regular captain Mahmudullah failing his fitness test due to a back injury which he has been dealing with throughout the tour of New Zealand, the team will be without the big five of - Mashrafe Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah - for the first time in almost 15 years.
February 2006 was the last time these five players were not part of the national team when the Tigers faced Sri Lanka in a Test match.
Due to the back injury, Mahmudullah was unable to bowl during the entire tour and has lacked general sharpness in the field too, dropping multiple catches in the series.
"Bangladesh ODI Captain Mahmud Ullah has been ruled out of today's last T20 international against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland due to a strained left thigh. He had sustained the injury during the second T20 in Napier. Litton Das will captain Bangladesh in today's match," a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) press release stated.
Liton, the wicketkeeper-batsman, will be the seventh T20I captain for Bangladesh and the 18th overall in all formats.
With Mahmudullah out, the door opens up for one of Mosaddek Hossain or Najmul Hossain Shanto to play in the starting XI at Eden Park in Aukland.
The match begins at 12:00 pm as Bangladesh search for their first win against New Zealand in New Zealand after 31 consecutive losses there against the home team.
