Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das remains doubtful for the first Test against the West Indies, starting on October 28 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. He has resumed batting practice after a hip injury, but the team management is yet to confirm his availability for the series opener.

Litton missed the recent tri-nation ODI series involving Zimbabwe and Afghanistan after suffering the injury during Bangladesh's previous assignment in the UAE. With ICC World Test Championship (WTC) points at stake, the Bangladesh selectors are keen to have him available without risking further injury.

Litton Das 50-50 for 1st Test as Bangladesh Await Fitness Update

Litton Das returned to the nets at the BCB Academy in Mirpur on Sunday and batted for nearly an hour without showing obvious discomfort. He faced throwdowns, off-spinner Nayeem Hasan and local net bowlers, playing some aggressive shots while occasionally moving to the non-striker's end to stretch.

Spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed briefly oversaw the session, but the batter did not participate in wicketkeeping drills. Although his batting appeared comfortable, the team management remains cautious about whether he can handle the demands of a Test match.

According to Cricbuzz, a member of the selection committee described his availability as uncertain and said the team would wait until the last possible moment before making a decision.

"He is in a state where we cannot say he is available or unavailable for the opening Test against West Indies. To be honest he is 50-50. But we will wait till the end and hope he can recover sufficiently to play the series opener as it's very important for us," the selector told Cricbuzz.

Litton Das Under Observation After Hip Injury and Fitness Concerns

The injury involved inflammation of a gluteal muscle tendon around Litton Das' hip joint. The pain has eased, but he continues to deal with stiffness, limited mobility and muscular weakness after a heavy workload in recent matches.

The medical team skipped his scheduled fitness test on October 24 because he had not regained full strength in the affected areas. According to Cricbuzz, he has cleared his medical evaluations and can continue functional training, with the team gradually increasing his workload.

A member of the team management explained that completing functional training does not automatically mean a player is fully fit. The priority is to ensure he meets the minimum physical requirements to play safely.

"Litton is able to do his functional training now, but functional training doesn't mean he is 100% fit. 100% is not really needed, basically, if we can at least cover his minimum requirements, that's why we might be taking some time," the team management member said.

Jaker Ali, Tawhid Hridoy in Contention if Litton Das Misses Test

If Litton Das does not receive clearance, Jaker Ali Anik is the leading option to take over wicketkeeping duties. Tawhid Hridoy could also come into contention if Bangladesh decide to strengthen their batting by selecting an additional specialist batter at the expense of a bowler.

Even if he is fit enough to play as a batter only, the team management may need to adjust the balance of the playing XI. The final decision is expected to involve discussions between the coaching staff, medical team and senior Bangladesh Cricket Board officials, given the risk of a recurring injury.

Bangladesh will host the West Indies in the opening Test in Mirpur from October 28, before the teams meet again in Sylhet from November 5. The home series will be followed by Bangladesh's tour of South Africa, which includes two Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is, beginning on November 15.