Najmul Hossain Shanto has resigned as Bangladesh’s Test captain following their series defeat to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh lost the second Test at SSC, Colombo, by an innings and 78 runs, with Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya playing a significant role by taking five wickets in the final innings.
Despite the team’s troubles, Najmul Hossain Shanto emerged as Bangladesh’s star batsman.
He batted at number three and scored 300 runs in the two-match series, including two straight centuries in the first Test.
“I no longer want to continue as captain in the Test format. This isn’t personal. I made the decision for the sake of the team. I believe this will assist the team. I’ve been a part of the dressing room for a few years. I believe having three captains [for the three international versions] is excessive. I’m not sure how the board will react to this, but I’ll back their choice. However, this is a personal decision. “I think three different captains will be difficult for the team to deal with,” Shanto stated at the news conference, as reported by.
Shanto claimed that he had notified the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) cricket operations department of his decision to stand down a few days prior. His resignation came shortly after Mehidy Hasan Miraz replaced him as Bangladesh’s one-day international skipper earlier this month.
“I don’t want someone to think this is an emotional decision or that I’m disappointed in something. I’d like to make this clear. “This is for the betterment of the team,” Shanto explained.
Shanto took over as Bangladesh’s Test captain ahead of the home series against New Zealand in November 2023, and he led the team in 14 Tests. Under his guidance, Bangladesh won four games, including two away wins in Pakistan in August 2024, but lost nine. The first Test against Sri Lanka in the recent series was a draw.
Shanto’s batting form remained consistent during his captaincy, averaging 36.24 compared to 29.83 before taking on the leadership role. Bangladesh won four Tests under his captaincy, with an average of 37.16.
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