Najmul Hossain Shanto has officially stepped down as captain of Bangladesh’s Test team following their heavy defeat against Sri Lanka in the second Test. Bangladesh lost the match by an innings and 78 runs, prompting Shanto to relinquish the leadership role in the red-ball format.
According to cricket sources, Shanto’s decision was also influenced by his recent removal from Bangladesh’s ODI captaincy. He reportedly no longer felt motivated to continue leading in the longer format. Speaking to the media, Shanto stated:
“I don’t want to continue as Test captain. This decision was made in the best interest of the team.”
He further added that having three separate captains for three formats is not an ideal model, explaining:
“I don’t think it’s wise to have different captains for every format. It creates complications and challenges in team management and consistency.”
Shanto’s leadership in the Test side was seen as part of Bangladesh’s attempt to build a long-term structure, but his sudden exit leaves the board with a new leadership dilemma in red-ball cricket. As of now, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has not named a successor.
