Dhaka: Bangladesh T20I captain Liton Kumar Das appeared before the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (PCB) disciplinary committee on Sunday, a PCB official confirmed, for allegedly violating the board’s code of conduct.
While recovering from a calf injury, the wicketkeeper-batsman was recalled for allegedly traveling to China without informing the board, with a lack of communication about his health sparking concern among BCB officials.
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, forcing him to withdraw from the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL).
The 30-year-old opted to skip the Zimbabwe T20 in favor of taking part in the LPL. However, injury kept him out of the franchise.
After missing the Test series against Zimbabwe, Lytton was included in the squad for the ODI series, but returned to the country after failing to fully recover from an injury suffered during Bangladesh’s home ODI series against Australia earlier this year.
According to reports, Liton traveled to China after leaving Zimbabwe without informing the PCB, leaving board officials unaware of his rehabilitation progress.
As a central contracting player, the board considered unauthorized travel a breach of its code of conduct.
“He went to China and the board didn’t take it well. The board called him and asked why he went there and whose permission,” a BCB source told Cricbuzz.
PCB director Sirajuddin Mohammed Alamgir confirmed the hearing on Sunday and insisted the board would take disciplinary matters seriously.
“He gave his statement during the interrogation. Now we have to talk to the medical team and verify the whole thing. 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 Lytton’s disappointment at missing out on the Lankan Premier League may have contributed to the situation, but described the incident as a communication failure rather than deliberate misconduct.
“I think he’s a bit frustrated because he didn’t get to play in the Lankan Premier League,” he said.
“There was a communication gap. This was not an intentional or willful breach, but the lack of communication constituted a breach of his contract.”
He added that the board intends to use the case as a reminder to all federal contractors about the importance of following established procedures.
“Even if it is small, we have to take some action so that he will be more careful in future. The board chairman wants this to serve as a clear message to all players to follow the rules and regulations properly.
“The board will not tolerate any player’s indiscipline regardless of his importance.
“I have told Lytton not to take it personally. We want to send a clear message to the players about the board’s stance on disciplinary matters.”
Any sanction is expected to be decided by the Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the PCB’s Code of Conduct.