Najmul Hossain Shanto has decided to step down as Bangladesh’s Test captain following their series loss to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh fell to an innings and 78-run defeat in the second Test at the SSC in Colombo, where Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya claimed a crucial five-wicket haul in the final innings.
Despite the team’s struggles, Shanto was Bangladesh’s best performer with the bat. He scored 300 runs across the two-match series while batting at number three, hitting two consecutive centuries in the opening Test.
“I don’t want to continue as captain in the Test format anymore. This is not personal. I have taken the decision for the betterment of the team. I think this will help the team,” Shanto said at a press conference, according to ESPNcricinfo. He added that having three different captains for Bangladesh’s three international formats is not practical and could make things difficult for the team.
Shanto had already informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s cricket operations department about his decision a few days before the announcement. His resignation comes shortly after he was replaced by Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the ODI captain earlier this month.
“I would want that no one feels this decision is emotional, or that I am disappointed by something. I want to make this clear. This is for the betterment of the team,” Shanto said.
Shanto was appointed as Bangladesh’s Test captain ahead of their home series against New Zealand in November 2023. He led the side in 14 Tests, winning four matches, including two away victories in Pakistan in August 2024. Under his captaincy, Bangladesh suffered nine defeats, while the first Test against Sri Lanka in this series ended in a draw.
During his tenure as captain, Shanto maintained a solid run with the bat. He averaged 36.24 compared to his pre-captaincy average of 29.83. In the four Tests Bangladesh won under his leadership, Shanto averaged 37.16.
