On Thursday, Bangladesh cricketer Najmul Hossain Shanto resigned as the captain of the national T20I team. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President, Faruque Ahmed, confirmed the news, saying that Shanto had told the board about his decision, which was then accepted.
Najmul Hossain Shanto Steps Down as T20I Captain
Although Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as the T20I captain, he will still lead Bangladesh in Test and ODI cricket, showing his key role in the team’s longer formats. His resignation follows months of speculation about his position as the captain for all formats.
Speaking to the Dhaka-based newspaper Prothom Alo, Faruque Ahmed stated, “Shanto has finally informed us that he will not continue as the T20I captain. We have accepted his decision. There are, however, no T20Is coming up, so we will not think about a new captain just yet. We have an understanding with Shanto that when he is fit, he will continue as the Test and ODI captain.”
Mixed Results Mark Najmul Hossain Shanto’s T20I Captaincy Tenure
Najmul Hossain Shanto’s decision marks the end of his time as the T20I captain, a role he took on in February 2024. His time as captain had mixed results, with challenges on and off the field.
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When Najmul Hossain Shanto became the captain for all formats, there were high hopes after his strong performances in Test and ODI cricket. However, he soon showed he wasn’t fully comfortable leading in all formats. In October 2024, Shanto shared his doubts about continuing as the captain, but the board convinced him to stay on.
An injury during an ODI against Afghanistan in November made things more difficult for Shanto, causing him to miss the West Indies tour. While he was away, the captaincy was shared. Mehidy Hasan Miraz took charge of the Test and ODI teams, leading Bangladesh to a 1-1 draw in the Test series but a disappointing 3-0 loss in the ODIs.
For the T20I series, Litton Das stepped in as captain and led Bangladesh to a 3-0 series win, sparking more discussions about whether Shanto was the right choice to lead in all formats.
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Najmul Hossain Shanto’s time as T20I captain was marked by inconsistent performances from the team. Under his leadership, Bangladesh lost a bilateral series to Sri Lanka and the USA, and they were eliminated in the Super Eight stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup without a win.
Shanto’s Struggles with Batting and Captaincy
On a personal level, Shanto’s form in T20 cricket suffered. After showing promise following the 2022 T20 World Cup, he struggled as a captain, scoring only one fifty in 24 matches and averaging just 18.76. His poor batting form added to the team’s difficulties, and his resignation may give him the chance to focus on improving his performance.
Bangladesh’s next T20I series is likely to be a three-match series against Zimbabwe in March 2025, but the board has not yet named a captain. Litton Das is a strong candidate after leading the team successfully in the West Indies.
However, while Litton’s captaincy was impressive, his recent struggles with the bat in limited-overs cricket may lead the board to consider other options, like Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who has shown leadership skills in Tests and ODIs. The board’s decision will likely depend on performances in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), where players can prove themselves for leadership roles.
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