BCB summons Litton Das over alleged Code of Conduct breach

DHAKA: Bangladesh T20I captain Litton Kumar Das appeared before the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) disciplinary committee on Sunday after allegedly breaching the board's Code of Conduct, a BCB official confirmed.

The wicketkeeper-batter was summoned after reportedly travelling to China without informing the board while recovering from a calf injury, prompting concerns among BCB officials over a lack of communication regarding his medical condition.

Litton is expected to travel to Singapore on July 20 for further assessment of the injury that ruled him out of Bangladesh's T20I series against Zimbabwe and also forced him to withdraw from the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL).

The 30-year-old had opted to skip the Zimbabwe T20Is in favour of participating in the LPL. However, the injury prevented him from featuring in the franchise tournament.

After missing the Test series against Zimbabwe, Litton joined the squad for the ODI series but returned home after failing to recover fully from the calf injury he sustained during Bangladesh's home ODI series against Australia earlier this year.

According to reports, Litton travelled to China after leaving Zimbabwe without informing the BCB, leaving board officials unaware of his rehabilitation progress. 

As a centrally contracted player, the board viewed the unauthorised trip as a potential breach of its Code of Conduct.

"He went to China, which the board did not take well. The board called him and asked why he went there and whose permission he had," a BCB source told Cricbuzz.

BCB director Sirajuddin Mohammad Alamgir confirmed that the hearing took place on Sunday and stressed that the board would take disciplinary matters seriously.

"He gave his statement during the hearing. Now we have to speak with the medical committee and verify the entire matter. From what we have heard so far, we believe he is telling the truth," Alamgir said.

"He has represented Bangladesh for a long time and has no significant disciplinary record. We have taken that into consideration."

Alamgir suggested that Litton's disappointment over missing the Lanka Premier League may have contributed to the situation but described the incident as a communication failure rather than a deliberate act of misconduct.

"I think he is a little frustrated because he could not play in the Lanka Premier League," he said.

"There was a communication gap. It was not intentional or a deliberate violation, but the lack of communication still amounts to a breach of his contract."

He added that the board intended to use the case as a reminder to all centrally contracted players about the importance of following established procedures.

"We have to take some action, even if it is minor, so that he is more careful in future. The board president also wants this to serve as a clear message to all players to follow the rules and regulations properly.

"The board will not tolerate indiscipline from any player, regardless of how prominent he is.

"I have told Litton not to take this personally. We simply want to send a clear message to the players regarding the board's stance on disciplinary matters."

The disciplinary committee is expected to determine any sanction in accordance with the BCB's Code of Conduct.