Najmul Hossain Shanto Resigns as Captain of Bangladesh's T20I Team

New Delhi, Jan 2 (NationPress) Bangladesh cricketer Najmul Hossain Shanto has officially stepped down from his role as the captain of the national T20I squad on Thursday. The announcement was made public by BCB President Faruque Ahmed, who indicated that Shanto had communicated his decision to the board, which was readily accepted. Despite this change in T20I leadership, Shanto will continue to serve as captain for Bangladesh in Test and ODI formats, highlighting his crucial role in the team’s longer-format endeavors.

Shanto’s resignation follows months of speculation regarding his future as an all-format captain.

In a statement to the Dhaka-based newspaper Prothom Alo, Ahmed mentioned, “Shanto has finally informed us that he will not continue as the T20I captain. We have accepted his decision. There are no T20Is scheduled at the moment, so we will hold off on appointing a new captain just yet. We have an understanding with Shanto that he will remain as the Test and ODI captain when he is fit.”

This decision marks the conclusion of Shanto's T20I captaincy, which commenced in February 2024, characterized by mixed results and various challenges both on and off the field.

Shanto’s journey as an all-format captain began with great expectations after impressive displays in Test and ODI matches. However, his hesitance to lead across all formats became apparent early in his tenure. In October 2024, Shanto had voiced his concerns about continuing as an all-format captain, yet the board convinced him to stay on.

An injury sustained during an ODI against Afghanistan in November further complicated his situation, sidelining him for the West Indies tour. During his absence, the captaincy roles were divided, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking the helm for Test and ODI matches. Under his leadership, the team managed a 1-1 draw in the Test series but faced a disappointing 3-0 defeat in the ODIs.

Litton Das took charge for the T20I series, leading Bangladesh to a convincing 3-0 series victory, which reignited discussions about Shanto’s capability as an all-format captain.

Shanto’s record as T20I captain was marred by inconsistent team performances. Under his guidance, Bangladesh experienced bilateral series defeats against Sri Lanka and the USA, and they were eliminated in the Super Eight stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup without securing a win.

Individually, Shanto's performance in the T20 format faltered. Despite showing potential post the 2022 T20 World Cup, he struggled in his leadership role, achieving just one fifty in 24 matches with an average of 18.76. His batting struggles compounded the team’s issues, and his resignation may provide him the opportunity to focus on regaining his form.

Looking ahead, Bangladesh's T20I future includes a likely three-match series against Zimbabwe in March 2025, for which the board has yet to announce a new captain. However, Litton Das appears to be a leading candidate following his successful captaincy in the West Indies.

While Litton impressed with his leadership, his recent batting struggles in white-ball formats might prompt the board to consider other options such as Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who has demonstrated leadership qualities in Tests and ODIs. The board’s decision will likely depend on performances in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), where players can vie for leadership opportunities.