Abu Dhabi:Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Liton Das has made Test cricket history with an extraordinary performance against Afghanistan, becoming the first wicketkeeper to score 50 or more runs in both innings and achieve nine dismissals in a single match. This remarkable feat was accomplished on his 32nd birthday during the Abu Dhabi Test.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Liton's record was solidified on the fifth day when he took an impressive diving catch to dismiss Afghanistan's Ikram Alikhil just before the lunch break. This catch marked his eighth of the match, and he also completed a stumping, bringing his total number of dismissals to nine.
Liton's batting was equally impressive, as he scored 53 runs in Bangladesh's first innings and followed up with a superb 102 in the second innings. His achievement surpassed the previous record set by South Africa's Dennis Lindsay in 1966, who had scored 69 and 182 runs and recorded eight dismissals in a match against Australia in Johannesburg.
Despite Liton's outstanding performance, Afghanistan managed to secure a draw through a resilient display. Liton was close to breaking the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a single Test match, which is currently held by England's Jack Russell, South Africa's AB de Villiers, and India's Rishabh Pant, each with 11 dismissals.
Before the fifth day, Liton had already set a new Bangladesh record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a Test match, surpassing Khaled Mashud's record of seven dismissals against Zimbabwe in 2004.