UAE ODI Tri-Series 2026: Litton Das Ruled Out With Hip Injury, Towhid Hridoy Named Bangladesh Captain

In a significant blow to Bangladesh's aspirations in the UAE Tri-Nation ODI Series, regular captain Litton Das has been officially ruled out of the entire tournament due to a right hip joint injury. Prolific middle-order batter Towhid Hridoy will step up to lead the Tigers, beginning with their opening clash against Zimbabwe today, October 17, 2026, at 4:30 PM UAE Local time at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Bangladesh vs Zimbabwe, Live Streaming Online and Free Telecast, ODI Tri-Nation Series 2026, Match 1.

The news comes just hours before Bangladesh were set to begin their campaign. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed Das's unavailability following a fitness test he undertook this morning, which he failed to clear. This marks Hridoy's first stint as ODI captain for the national side, although he has prior experience leading Bangladesh 'A' and Under-19 teams. Adding to Bangladesh's woes, seasoned all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz also missed the opening fixture against Zimbabwe due to a fever.

Injury Sidelines Litton Das

Litton Das, who was appointed Bangladesh's full-time ODI captain in July 2026, was looking forward to leading the side in this crucial tri-series, which also features Afghanistan. However, he complained of discomfort in his right hip joint yesterday, leading to an MRI scan. National team physio Bayjedul Islam Khan confirmed the extent of the injury, stating that Das was unable to meet the required fitness benchmarks. This is not Litton's first tryst with injury this year, having recently recovered from a calf issue and missing parts of earlier tours.

Towhid Hridoy's Leadership Challenge

Towhid Hridoy, who was previously named as Litton Das's deputy, now faces the immediate challenge of leading a national side in an international tournament. The 25-year-old batter was born on December 4, 2000, and has demonstrated leadership qualities at various levels and expressed his ambition to captain Bangladesh earlier this year. His elevation reflects the team management's faith in his abilities both as a player and a leader. Hridoy became the 18th cricketer to captain Bangladesh in ODIs.

UAE ODI Tri-Series 2026 Fixtures

The tri-series, hosted entirely at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, will see each team play the other once in a round-robin format before the top two sides compete in the final.

Team Form and Prospects

Bangladesh enters the series after recently drawing a one-off Test against Afghanistan at the same venue earlier this month. Zimbabwe, on the other hand, are looking to rebound after a recent ODI series sweep defeat against Australia. All three teams are closely ranked in the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings, between eighth and eleventh, making this series a crucial test of their 50-over credentials. Bangladesh is eyeing the trophy, with players like Mosaddek Hossain emphasizing the importance of winning the round-robin matches. India vs West Indies Live Streaming Online and Free Telecast, 5th T20I 2026.

With Litton Das sidelined, the onus is now on Towhid Hridoy and the senior players to rally and ensure Bangladesh remains a strong contender in this vital lead-up to the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. The unexpected change in leadership will undoubtedly test the team's depth and resilience right from the opening match.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 17, 2026 06:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).