Litton points to fatigue, pressure after Bangladesh's 3-0 whitewash

Bangladesh T20I skipper Litton Kumar Das has insisted there's no reason to panic despite his team being clean-swept by the West Indies in the three-match T20I series.

West Indies completed a 3-0 sweep with a five-wicket win in the final game in Chattogram on Friday (October 31). The defeat marked Bangladesh's first whitewash since their 3-0 loss to Pakistan in May, bringing an end to a run of four consecutive bilateral series victories.

"I had also said before the series that I want a tough time from here. I think they have given us a tough time from everywhere. They have bowled very well. The batting was also not that good. But obviously, you don't want the bad series all the time," Litton told reporters after the match.

"There is only one option to come back from this: to keep his spirits high, not to worry too much, because if you worry, the negative thoughts will come more, the positives won't," he added. "The thing I wanted was to overcome the pressure. We couldn't do that. We were under pressure in all three games, but we couldn't overcome it. This is a point of concern - how we will overcome it."

Litton also felt that continuous cricket had taken a toll on the players and expressed confidence that they would return stronger after a much-needed break before their next international assignment. "Many times, you try hard to deliver, but things don't go your way. So, I think this series might be one such instance. They have been playing cricket for a long time. I hope that after getting a break, the players will restart and give us something good.

"I hope, as I said, that sometimes cricketers play continuously, and fatigue sets in. Sometimes, players need rest because when you play continuously, many things will not go your way. When the players get a break, like now that the T20 series is over, they will get at least 10 days of break to restart themselves. Then there is the Ireland series, and before that, there will be practice. I think all the players will recover well and will be able to come back well," he said.

Batting has been a major concern for Bangladesh, but Litton made it clear that he's not in favour of wholesale changes. "The players who played in this team are all proven. Sometimes, a series or two can go wrong. A player's four or five matches can be bad, but that doesn't make him a bad player. He himself knows where he needs to improve. I think he will focus on that area, talk to the batting coach, and try to come back from there," said Litton.

"If you change players every day, the result will remain the same. The new player, if he doesn't give a very good comeback, the same situation will remain. So, those who are playing cricket for a long time, if we stick with them, there's a better chance for a good result," he added.

Meanwhile, Nurul Hasan was taken to hospital after sustaining an ankle injury during the final T20I in Chattogram. Left-arm pacer Shoriful Islam, who bowled two overs for 12 runs, will also be monitored closely after experiencing hamstring discomfort.