Asia Cup 2025: Phil Simmons rues Litton Das' absence as Bangladesh falter against Pakistan

Published - 26 Sept 2025, 15:33 IST | Updated - 26 Sept 2025, 15:34 IST

Bangladesh's head coach Phil Simmons has pointed to Litton Das' unavailability as one of the main reasons behind their Asia Cup 2025 exit. Litton was sidelined from Bangladesh's squad for their Super Four matches against India and Pakistan due to injury.

He was also questioned around Bangladesh's decision of sending Mahedi Hasan at No. 4 against Pakistan in a low-scoring game. The 62-year-old defended the decision, admitting that it was part of a strategy of counter-attacking in the powerplay when the ball was hard and relatively easy to put away.

"Yes, when someone of his (Litton Das) class is suddenly unavailable, the situation gets tough. (On promoting Mahedi Hasan up the order against Pakistan) You look at it as number four. I look at it as sending someone who could have taken on the pacers at that time. We were still in the powerplay, so he could have countered the fast bowlers a little bit more than if he went lower down to face all the spinners," stated Simmons, as quoted by The Daily Star.

Simmons concluded by conceding that Bangladesh are still not at the level where they can adjust to big players' sudden unavailability in such high-pressure games.

"Bangladesh chased 160 two games ago with the same batting order. We are not a team that can lose [Tanzid Tamim] and the captain simultaneously and easily replace them. We are not at that stage yet, though we are getting there. But losing our captain, who was in such good form, has been a big issue for us," added Simmons.

Asia Cup 2025: PAK vs BAN Highlights & Result – Match 17

Bangladesh failed to chase down 136 in a do-or-die clash against Pakistan in Dubai on Thursday, September 25. Despite winning their opening Super Four clash, they crashed out of the continental tournament after losing to India and Pakistan.