In a major development for Bangladesh cricket, Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as the Test captain following the team’s series defeat against Sri Lanka on Saturday. The decision came after Bangladesh lost the two-match series by 1-0, raising serious questions about the team’s future. This series marked Bangladesh’s fifth consecutive winless Test series.
Najmul Hossain Shanto announces decision to step down as Bangladesh Test captain
During the post match interaction with reporters Shanto announced that his decision to step down from the Bangladesh Test captaincy. He stated that he no longer wishes to continue as captain in the longest format, emphasizing that the decision is not personal but made purely in the interest of the team. Shanto further stated that his resignation will ultimately benefit the side. He also mentioned that if the Bangladesh Cricket Board chooses (BCB) to maintain separate captains for all three formats, it will be entirely their decision.
“I am stepping down from the Bangladesh Test captaincy. I don’t want to continue as captain in this format, and I want to give a clear message to everyone: this is not a personal matter. It is entirely for the betterment of the team, and I believe this will help the team. If the cricket board feels they will continue with three captains in three formats, that will be their decision,” Shanto said.
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Bangladesh’s ordinary run under Shanto in Tests
Shanto has led Bangladesh in 14 Test matches and won four, including a historic series victory against Pakistan. Since that triumph, Bangladesh have failed to win another Test series and has struggled with poor performances both at home and away. Earlier this year Shanto stepped down as the T20I captain and was later replaced by Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the ODI captain too. In the recently concluded series, Shanto became the first-ever Bangladesh captain to score twin centuries in a Test match. He accumulated a total of 300 runs across four innings, including two centuries.
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