The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a new national contract for the year 2023, comprising of 21 players. Four new players- Khaled Ahmed, Zakir Hasan, Musaddek Hossain Saikot, and Hasan Mahmud- have been included in the contract. The contract will be valid until December 31, 2023. However, four players- Shadman Islam, Yasir Ali, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, and Mohammad Naim- have been omitted from the previous contract announced in 2022. Read more: BCB announces new central contract with Shakib in all formats BCB National Contract 2023: All format: Liton Das, Shakib Al Hasan, Taksin Ahmed, Mehidy Hasan Miraz; For Test and ODI: Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim; For Test and T20Is: Najmul Hossain Shanto, Nurul Hasan Shohan; Only Test: Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossian, Khaled Ahmed, Zakir Hasan; Only ODI: Mahmudullah Riyad; ODI and T20Is: Mustafizur Rahman, Afif Hossain, Shoriful Islam; Only T20Is: Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Hasan Mahmud.  Read more: BCB announces new central contracts

Liton Das smashed an impressive 70 off a mere 42 deliveries, leading the Cumilla Victorians to an emphatic five-wicket victory over the Sylhet Strikers, who suffered their first loss in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) after winning five matches on the trot. Cumilla won the toss and elected to bowl first, restricting Strikers to a moderate total of 133 runs off of 20 overs, losing seven wickets in the process. Imad Wasim and Thisara Perera put together an impressive 80-run partnership for the eighth wicket after the Strikers had lost seven wickets for just 53 runs inside 10 overs. For Cumilla, Hasan Ali and Mukidul Islam took two wickets each. In response, Liton and Mohammad Rizwan put together a solid 57-run opening stand in pursuit of a below-par target. Rizwan fell for 15, but Liton remained steadfast and shepherded the team to a safe position. Read more: BPL 2023: Comilla break out of cycle of defeat in fourth match Liton was outfoxed by Sylhet captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza when Comilla were just 23 runs away from victory. Despite the Strikers' efforts, Cumilla achieved their goal with five wickets to spare, resulting in the Strikers' first loss of the season.

Comilla Victorians earned their first win of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) in their fourth match, defeating home team Chattogram Challengers by six wickets Monday. Liton Das, who scored 40 off 22 balls with four fours and three sixes, led the charge for Comilla. Pakistani wicketkeeper-batter Mohammed Rizwan also scored 37 off 35 balls. Choosing to bat first, Chattogram managed to post 135-8 in 20 overs. Read more: BPL 2023: Chattogram romp to easy win over Dhaka Chattogram captain Shuvagata Hom top scored 37 runs off 23 deliveries. Max O'Dowd and Afif Hossain scored 24 and 29, respectively. Tanvir Islam, Mosaddek Hossain Saikat and Khushdil Shah bagged two wickets each for Comilla. In reply, Liton and Rizwan made a 50-plus-run opening stand that set a solid foundation for Comilla, who eventually won the match with 15 balls to play. It was the third defeat for Chattogram in five matches in the event. Read more: BPL 2023 Chattogram phase begins Friday

Right-handed top-order batter Liton Das achieved a historic milestone, becoming the highest-ranked Bangladeshi batter in Bangladesh’s Test cricket history. According to the latest ICC ranking update published on Wednesday, Liton Das has moved up two places to become the 12th-best batter in the longer format of international cricket. This is his highest ranking yet, surpassing his previous ranking of 14th along with Tamim Iqbal. The newest ranking update came as a testament to Liton's skill and potential. Liton has been batting exceptionally well for Bangladesh over the last three years, accumulating more than 1500 runs at an average of over 45 in Test. During the mentioned period, he scored three centuries with 11 half-centuries. Read more: T20 World Cup 2022: Liton hits a 21-ball 50 vs India before rain starts In the past three years, Liton has become only the second player after Dimuth Karunaratne to have scored more than 1500 runs in fewer than 20 matches. Specifically, Karunaratne notched 1602 runs in 18 games, while Liton amassed 1509 runs in 19 matches. Among the batters who have scored at least 1500 runs in the past three years, Liton holds the fifth-highest average, with only Marnus Labuschagne, Babar Azam, Joe Root, and Karunaratne all having better records than him in the same time period. According to the most recent ranking update, Mushfiqur Rahim is the only other Bangladeshi batter to make it into the top 20, standing at 20th place. Tamim Iqbal is also in the top 50, as he is now at 43rd. Read more: BD v SL: Liton focusing more on long shots

Bangladesh's wicket-keeper batter Liton Das has expressed optimism regarding their chances of coming away with a win in the ongoing Dhaka Test against India. At the close of day three, India slumped to 45-4 in pursuit of 145 runs. In the last session of the day, the tourists had lost four wickets, thanks to Mehidy Hasan Miraz's three-wicket haul. "A win is absolutely possible," Liton said in the post-day press conference Saturday. "We need to take early wickets tomorrow. If we can take early wickets, it will be difficult for them to win the match, no matter how small the target is." Both Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli were dismissed before the end of the day's play. However, Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer are yet to bat. Read more: Dhaka Test: India pursuing 145 as Mehidy bags 3 wickets "They have some batters who can give us a tough time, but they are the side who will be under more pressure," Liton said. Bangladesh batted first in this match and scored 227 runs; Mominul Haque scored 84. India responded with a better performance. Pant and Iyer did well to help their team earn a first-innings lead of 87 runs with a score of 314. Read more: Dhaka Test: Bangladesh set a target of 145 for India Bangladesh put up a fight in the second innings. Zakir Hasan hit a half-century to help his team score 231.

Riding on the fifties of Zakir Hasan and Liton Das, Bangladesh set a target of 145 for India to win the Dhaka Test. Given the situation they were in, it was a good effort from the tailenders of the hosts.  Bangladesh ended their first innings on 231, with Liton scoring the highest of 73.  They started the day with seven without losing any wickets. But in the first session of the day, Bangladesh lost four wickets, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Mominul Haque and Mushfiuqr Rahim failing to offer any challenge to the Indian bowlers.  But Zakir and Liton proved that a little patience would have resulted in a bigger score for the Tigers.  Read more: Dhaka Test: Bangladesh opt to bat first with two changes vs India Axar Patel bagged three wickets for India while Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammad Siraj took two wickets each.  Nurul Hasan Sohan and Taskin Ahmed posted 31 each, helping the hosts to get a lead close to 150.  India will have around 23 overs on the third day. Earlier, India posted 314 in their first innings in reply to Bangladesh’s 227 and secured a first-innings lead of 87 runs.  Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer were India's most successful batters, posting 93 and 87 runs, respectively.  Read more: Dhaka Test: India secure 87-run 1st innings lead after day two

Liton Das, the right-handed Bangladesh top-order batter, is all set to take the helm, leading Bangladesh in the three-match ODI series against India starting on Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Liton had previously led the Tigers in a T20 match against New Zealand. He recalled his first experience of captaincy as being similar to a vacation. Yet, now, with the advent of him leading Bangladesh in an ODI series for the first time, his excitement is palpable. "Every cricketer dreams of captaining their country," he said. "I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to do so, and I'm really looking forward to this new endeavor." Upon the announcement of Liton as captain of Bangladesh's ODI series, supporters questioned if he could maintain the same level of performance he had demonstrated for Bangladesh over the last year. In the last one year, he played 10 ODIs and scored 500 runs at an average of 62.5 — the highest for any Bangladeshi batter in the same period. read more: Liton to lead Tigers in ODIs v India Liton assuaged any worries, stating that his focus was instead on playing their natural cricket and performing well against a team like India, who have long been the superior side compared to Bangladesh. The superiority of India might be felt more to Liton as the regular captain Tamim Iqbal is out of action due to a groin injury, and the spearhead of Bangladesh's pace attack, Taskin Ahmed, is also uncertain for this series. So, Liton has to find a way to fill the gap left behind by the duo. The new Bangladesh captain lamented the absence of Tamim and Taskin, but was hopeful that those who have earned a spot in the team are more than capable of playing solid cricket. "Our only goal is to win," Liton stated. Liton is confident that the pressure of captaincy can be alleviated with the backing of Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah Riyad, who have rejoined the ODI team after missing out on the T20 World Cup. Ahead of the upcoming ICC 50-over World Cup in India next year, Bangladesh are determined to start their preparations by taking on India in this three-match ODI series. Despite having the opportunity to begin their journey to the World Cup, Liton is more focused on sealing this series as a first step and refining their game. Read more: Zakir's big ton helps Bangladesh A save unofficial Test v India A "The World Cup is far away from now," Liton said. "We always have some areas to improve. We need to focus on playing good cricket on a daily basis. If we can play well against a strong team like India, it will sharpen our thinking and help us to elevate our game. Everyone in the team is eager to take the field and perform well." Liton was asked what his expectations were for his first ODI series as captain. He smiled, and in a diplomatic manner replied, "A trophy would be great; nothing else matters to me."

Bangladesh scored 60 for no wicket in the powerplay in pursuit of 185 against India in their fourth Super 12 match on Wednesday in Adelaide. Liton Das, the right-handed opener, hit a 21-ball fifty and kept the Tigers alive in the match. Read more: T20 World Cup: Kohli propels India to 184 vs Bangladesh After the seventh over, when Bangladesh were batting at 77 for none, rain started and players were called out of the field. Liton was batting at 59 while Najmul Hossain Shanto was at 7 off 16 balls. Before the rain, Liton made a sparking start. Riding on his five fours, Bangladesh made 30 off the first three overs. Read more: T20 World Cup: Rahul gains momentum before losing wicket to Shakib In the third over, bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Liton hit two fours and one six. In the second over, he smashed Arshdeep Singh for three fours. Earlier, India scored 184 riding in the fifties from Lokesh Rahul and Virat Kohli. For Bangladesh, Hasan Mahmud got three wickets while Shakib Al Hasan took two.

After scoring 141, his best in Tests so far, wicketkeeper-batter Liton Das fell in the eighth over of day two of the Dhaka Test against Sri Lanka. It was a delivery outside off by Kasun Rajitha. Liton tried to defend but a thick edge went to the second slip region and the fielder, Kusal Mendis, did not miss it. With Liton’s departure, the 272-stand between him and Mushfiqur Rahim came to an end. It was the best sixth-wicket stand by Bangladesh in the format. Also read: Mushfiqur, Liton stand tall after disastrous start Two balls later, Mosaddek Hossain faced the same delivery that caused the dismissal of Liton and played the same way, but this time he prodded a catch to the wicketkeeper. Mossadek suffered the fourth duck of the innings. Bangladesh went down to 296 for five to 296 for seven. Along the way, Kasun completed his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket. His previous best in Test was four for 60. Overnight centurions Liton and Mushfiqur started the day at 277 for five, with Liton batting at 135 and Mushfiqur at 115. Earlier, Bangladesh lost five wickets under 25 runs in the first hour of the match on day one after Kasun and Asitha Fernando ripped the Bangladeshi batting line-up apart. Rajitha took three wickets on day one, while Asitha took two. Also read: Mushfiqur smashes another ton vs Sri Lanka But for the sixth wicket, Mushfiqur and Liton came in to rescue the Tigers from a batting disaster. The first Test of the series ended in a draw in Chattogram. A win in the Dhaka Test is crucial for both the teams to win the title of this series, which is a part of the ongoing cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.

Wicketkeeper-batter Liton Das notched up his third Test ton on the opening day of the Dhaka Test against Sri Lanka on Monday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. Liton’s last ton came early this year against New Zealand. As of 70th over, Liton scored 122 unbeaten— his best in the format so far. Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bat first. But they failed to have an impressive start as they lost five wickets just for 24 runs— with three ducks to Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan. Also read: Early wickets dent Bangladesh in Dhaka Test In the sixth wicket stand, Liton joined Mushfiqur Rahim and added more than 200 runs in the partnership with more than 20 overs to play. Liton completed the magical three-figure total during the 63rd over of the innings pulling Asitha Fernando to the backward square area. A fielder picked up the ball and threw it to the stumps and missed. There was no backup to pick up the ball, and thus, the ball reached the boundary for a four. Also read: BAN vs SL Series 2022: Statistics Favour Spinners to be Game Changers in the Mirpur Test Along with Liton, Mushifuqr also is doing well hitting 90 as of 70th over of the innings.