Bangladesh confirm batting order change for Pakistan series

Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons has confirmed veteran right-hander Litton Das will bat at No.5 during the upcoming three-match ODI series against Pakistan.

Das hasn't batted at No.5 since the 2019 edition of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, with Simmons hoping the move to the middle-order will help the 31-year-old find some form in 50-over cricket.

In Das' last eight ODI innings he is yet to reach double figures with the bat and Simmons believes the switch to No.5 will help both he and the side across the three-match series against Pakistan than commences on Wednesday.

"He has been comfortable batting anywhere," Simmons said.

"I think he's a lot more relaxed with his game and he sees it as an opportunity to do what the team needs of him. We didn't have to convince Litton for anything. All we asked was, 'this is what the team needs', and he was happy to do it. He is happy to do anything for the team, when he is captain, he's happy to do it for us now. So, we didn't have to convince him for anything."

Das made an enterprising innings of 94* when coming in at No.5 against the West Indies during the 2019 World Cup and Simmons believes the move back to this position will suit.

"First of all, it is very difficult to keep (for) 50 overs and then come and open the batting," Simmons said.

"(He) is also one of our better players of spin bowling. The middle order has been one of our Achilles heels. So, him going down there with his experience and his skills, hopefully we can get what we need there."

For Pakistan the series in Bangladesh will represent the first opportunity to show their capabilities since a disappointing campaign at the recent ICC Men's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka where they failed to reach the knockout stages.

Pakistan have six uncapped players in their squad that will face Bangladesh and experienced batted Babar Azam is among the players to miss selection and head coach Mike Hesson sees the series as a great chance for the side's up and coming stars to shine.

"It is an exciting group," Hesson said.

"We have got some fresh faces that have done well in the Shaheens. They have earned the right to get some opportunities at the next level. We are excited as a group to involve them. I think our challenge over here is adapting to the pitch quickly. Regardless of what's thrown at us, we have got to make sure we have got a team ready to challenge Bangladesh in their own conditions.

"Our last two one-day series have been exceptional. We have won both of those very convincingly. We played some good, solid cricket. We got runs at the top of the order, which always help. This series will be a challenge for some new players to do the same thing."

Bangladesh squad: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam Bhuiyan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana

Pakistan squad: Shaheen Afridi (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha, Shamyl Hussain

Series Schedule

First ODI: March 11, Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
Second ODI: March 13, Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
Third ODI: March 15, Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka