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In a major development for Bangladesh cricket, Najmul Hossain Shanto has officially stepped down as captain of the national team in the T20I format. This decision comes after a period of reflection and challenges faced during his tenure, marking a key moment in the leadership dynamics of Bangladesh cricket
Najmul Hossain Shanto steps down as Bangladesh T20I captain
Shanto’s decision to step down from the captaincy was influenced by his desire to focus more on his performance as a player. Initially, he had planned to quit only after the T20 World Cup 2024which took place in the West Indies and the USA. However, after discussions with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and his own assessment of the team’s needs, he chose to relinquish his leadership role across all formats. This change was confirmed in an interview to Cricbuzz by the BCB president Farooq Ahmedwhich noted that Shanto had clearly communicated his intentions, leading to the board’s acceptance of his decision.
“Shanto finally told us that he will not lead the T20Is and we accepted that, but since we don’t have the T20Is right now, we have time on our hands and so we are not picking a new captain.” Ahmed said.
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Shanto’s performance as a skipper
During his captaincy, Shanto’s record was a mixed bag. He led Bangladesh in 24 T20I matches, achieving 10 wins. In ODIs, he managed four wins in 11 matches and managed to win three out of ten Tests. Notably, his leadership saw Bangladesh claim a historic win at home against new zealand in 2023 and two away wins against Pakistan. However, despite these achievements, Shanto’s batting performance suffered significantly during his captaincy. With his resignation, he aims to reorient his focus towards improving his form as a batsman, which has been underwhelming of late.
New Leadership Dynamics in Bangladesh Cricket
With Shanto’s resignation, discussions about his replacement have gained momentum. Litton Das has become a favorite for the T20I captaincy due to his successful leadership during the recent series, including a clean sweep against the West Indies. The BCB is expected to announce a new captain soon, although they have indicated that there is no immediate rush as there are no upcoming T20I matches in the calendar.
However, Shanto will lead Bangladesh in the next edition ICC Champions Trophy 2025. There were rumors suggesting that Mehidy Hasan Miraz could take over as captain after being named as stand-in skipper for the Test and ODI series during the West Indies tour, where the regular captain was sidelined due to injury.
“If there is no injury problem, Najmul will remain the captain in Test and ODI and we have discussed that,” he added. Ahmed added.
A glimpse of Shanto’s future
Despite stepping down from the T20I captaincy, Shanto is likely to return as captain for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. Bangladesh have been placed in Group A alongside formidable opponents such as India and Pakistan. The team’s first match will be against India in Dubai on February 20, 2025. As Shanto prepares for this challenge, it remains to be seen how he will balance his responsibilities as a player and a leader.
