National team captain Litton Kumar Das will lead the side in the Dhaka phase, head coach Mickey Arthur confirmed at a press conference on Friday.
Nurul Hasan Sohan had been captaining Rangpur Riders for the past few seasons. Under his leadership, the 2017 BPL champions reached the playoffs in the previous edition and remain on course for a top-four finish in the ongoing tournament.
However, Sohan has struggled with his personal form this season. In six innings across eight matches, the experienced wicketkeeper-batter has managed only 30 runs at a strike rate of 90.90.
Head coach Mickey Arthur explained that Sohan decided to step aside from the captaincy to focus on his batting. Arthur also clarified the reasoning behind appointing Litton as the new captain.
“Since Litton is already the national team captain, the decision was very easy. I really like the way Litton approaches cricket. He is very aggressive and has a great mindset. He is a leader of the team, everyone follows him and respects him,” Arthur said.
Litton, who was present alongside Arthur at the press conference, stated that despite an upcoming World Cup, his full focus is currently on Rangpur Riders.
“At this moment, I’m not thinking about the World Cup. Since I’m playing for a franchise, my complete dedication will be for my franchise. When they ask this of you, as a cricketer it’s your responsibility to accept it. I believe I’ve taken the right decision,” Litton said.
Rangpur Riders will face Dhaka Capitals on Saturday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. With four wins from eight matches, Rangpur currently sit fourth on the points table and need just one more victory to secure a place in the playoffs.
