Bangladesh's cricket leadership has undergone a significant shift just months before the ODI World Cup, with wicket-keeper batter Litton Das taking over the one-day captaincy from Mehidy Hasan Miraz. The Bangladesh Cricket Board made the announcement on Wednesday, citing a dip in Mehidy's batting form as the primary reason for the change. Main Developments Litton Das, who already leads Bangladesh in T20 internationals, now assumes the white-ball captaincy across both limited-overs formats. Najmul Hossain Shanto retains his role as Test captain, keeping the red-ball leadership separate. BCB president Tamim Iqbal confirmed the board's preference for split captaincy, telling reporters in Mirpur that having separate white-ball and red-ball leaders is the right approach. He praised Mehidy's tenure but acknowledged concerns about his batting performance. Read also: 3 Penalties Handed to Pakistan Pacers for Overzealous Test Celebrations Background Mehidy's captaincy exit follows Bangladesh's ODI series defeat against Zimbabwe earlier this month. He was appointed on a 12-month basis in June 2025, taking over from Najmul, who had briefly captained across all formats. Under Mehidy, Bangladesh won 10 of 20 ODIs. The team endured a rocky start, losing five of their first six matches and dropping two consecutive series, before rebounding with four straight home series wins against the West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia. The Zimbabwe loss ended that momentum. Litton has prior captaincy experience, having led Bangladesh in seven ODIs, including a series victory over India in 2022. His appointment aligns with the board's strategy ahead of next year's ODI World Cup in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. Why It Matters The captaincy change reflects Bangladesh's urgency to stabilize leadership before a major global tournament. Mehidy's batting decline threatened his place in the XI, making it difficult to justify his captaincy. Splitting roles allows Litton to focus on white-ball cricket while Najmul handles Tests. Tamim's comments about Mehidy's importance as a player underscore the balance between performance and leadership. The decision could either revive Bangladesh's ODI fortunes or create further instability if results don't improve quickly. What's Next Tamim also addressed the uncertain status of Bangladesh's proposed home series against India in September. He expressed optimism that India would tour, describing Bangladesh as "an extremely safe country." Talks with the BCCI have been "very positive," with clarity expected soon. Under the previous board, Bangladesh refused to play India at this year's T20 World Cup, citing security concerns after Mustafizur Rahman was dropped by Kolkata Knight Riders. Tamim acknowledged that the government ultimately decides on such matters, adding that a decision on the series is expected shortly.