Bangladesh have indeed come a long way in international cricket, but things are very different in franchise T20 games.  The most important example is this season, there isn't a single Bangladeshi player in the Indian Premier League (IPL).  After the IPL, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is thought to be the second-biggest T20 league, but only three Bangladeshi players have been picked.

Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das thinks that the biggest reason for this is that it's hard to get No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).  He thinks that franchise teams are hesitant to sign Bangladeshi players because they don't know if they will be able to play the whole event.

This year, Litton was unsold at the IPL auction. However, the Karachi Kings have picked him to be a backup for Tim Seifert in the PSL 2025.  He likely won't be in the starting lineup right away, but he's still confident that he can make a difference if given the chance.

Speaking to BDCricTime, Litton Das emphasized how getting consistent opportunities in top franchise leagues helps a player's development. "PSL opportunities are very limited for Bangladeshi cricketers. Hardly a few of us get a chance. I was picked for IPL once, but unfortunately, I couldn’t play much. If I had played a full season, maybe I could have learned and improved more," Litton said.

Last season, Litton's selection in IPL's Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) created huge excitement among Bangladeshi fans. However, he played just one match before returning home due to personal reasons. This time, he hopes to make the most of his PSL opportunity and also use it as preparation for upcoming international fixtures.

Litton acknowledged how playing in high-quality franchise leagues has helped senior Bangladeshi players like Shakib Al Hasan and Mustafizur Rahman refine their skills. "Shakib bhai and Mustafiz have improved significantly because they played full seasons in leagues like IPL. But in BPL (Bangladesh Premier League), we often bring overseas players for just a couple of matches. In big leagues, players are signed for entire seasons, which helps them gain experience across 10-12 matches. If I get to play, it will be a great learning experience, especially ahead of key T20 assignments like the Asia Cup and series against India and Pakistan," Litton explained.

Although Litton played just one IPL match before leaving, he doesn’t have any regrets. However, he admits it was a tough situation as KKR was initially considering giving him game time. "I don’t regret it. You won’t always have good times in your career. Even in jobs, people go through ups and downs. The important thing is how well you use your good phases. The IPL team management was thinking about playing me, but things didn’t go as expected," he said.

Litton also pointed out that short-term signings rarely work in high-stakes leagues like the IPL. "If you aren’t with the team for at least 7-8 matches, you won’t be in their plans. When you sign for just 2-3 matches and leave, why would an IPL team invest in you? I was lucky to get a chance, but you can’t always make an impact immediately. I couldn’t make the most of it last time," Litton concluded.