Litton Das And? 3 Players To Watch Out For In UAE vs BAN T20I Series

Jatin

Litton Das will captain Bangladesh [Source: @@LittonOfficial/x.com]Litton Das will captain Bangladesh [Source: @@LittonOfficial/x.com]

The desert heat is back in the UAE and it is not just about the weather. The cricketing caravan has rolled into Sharjah where UAE and Bangladesh are set to lock horns in a short-but-spicy two-match T20I series, kicking off Saturday, May 17 at 8:30 PM IST.

On one side is a hungry young UAE squad looking to throw punches above their weight on home turf. On the other, an experienced Bangladesh unit that has been buzzing in white-ball formats lately and won’t take this clash lightly.

With the T20 World Cup 2026 inching closer, this series is an audition for rising stars and a comeback zone for under-fire regulars. Here are 3 players to watch out for in BAN vs UAE series.

3. Nahid Rana

Criterion
Data
Matches
17
Wickets14
Average37.14
Economy8.52
Best Figures4/27

Table - Nahid Rana T20 Stats

New format, new face. Nahid Rana is set to make his T20I debut and he is coming in hot. Already tested in ODIs (5 wickets) and Tests (23 wickets), the 21-year-old quick has a simple pla: hit the deck, hit it hard and don’t let up.

His T20 stats? 14 wickets in 17 matches with a best of 4/27. But Rana isn’t just about the numbers, it’s his nasty bounce and searing pace that sets him apart. He is not afraid to bowl heavy balls on flat decks, exactly what you need in a format built on chaos.

After making waves in Test and ODI cricket, this is Rana’s big chance to crash the T20I party and make selectors sit up and take notice.

2. Muhammad Waseem

Criterion
Data
Matches10
Runs316
Average35.11
Strike-Rate154.14

Table - Muhammad Waseem T20I Stats (Last 10 Matches)

If UAE cricket had a heartbeat, it would sound a lot like Muhammad Waseem’s batting. Their captain and opener, Waseem, wears many hats and does it all with style.

In his last 10 T20Is, he has hammered 316 runs, striking at a blistering 154.14, averaging 35.11. And when you’re playing in Sharjah with short boundaries and home support, that kind of form can swing matches in your favour fast.

He is the kind of player who can take the game away in the powerplay. If Waseem gets going, it won’t just be runs, it will be fireworks.

1. Litton Das

Criterion
Data
Matches10
Runs170
Average18.89
Strike-Rate107.59.

Table - Litton Das T20I Stats (Last 10 Matches)

Litton Das was dropped from the ODI squad for the 2025 Champions Trophy because of his terrible form. But instead of throwing a pity party, Litton Das did what great players do, shut everyone up with his bat. Hours after the axe fell, he clobbered an unbeaten 125 off 55 balls in the BPL.

He is now the T20I captain. Litton replaced Najmul Hossain Shanto, who stepped down after a dip in form. The irony? Litton’s form isn’t red-hot either with just 170 runs in his last 10 T20Is, averaging 18.89 with a strike rate of 107.59.

But when Shanto was injured, Litton led the Tigers to a 3-0 sweep over West Indies in December. That counts for something. With the armband back on and pressure mounting, this series could be Litton’s big reset button to prove that he still belongs at this level.