Shanto had made a strong case for a comeback with an impressive performance in the latest Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), where he led Rajshahi Warriors to the title.
He scored an unbeaten 101 in his first match and finished the tournament with 355 runs in 12 games at a strike rate above 135 and an average close to 30.
Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud believes Shanto’s strike rate and average are no longer major concerns.
“I think after he scored 100 for Khulna (Rajshahi) in the BPL, his strike rate and average were not bad. In T20 cricket, you cannot score runs every day. The important thing is whether, when you play, you can help the team reach its winning target. That is very important. I think Shanto is experienced now,” Mahmud said.
Shanto has also enjoyed considerable success as Bangladesh’s Test captain, including leading the side to a Test victory in Pakistan and a historic win against Australia in Australia. Mahmud believes that experience will give Shanto added confidence in the shortest format.
“I think he is definitely a good player in this format. He has the ability to hit big sixes and score quickly. From a fitness perspective, Shanto is honestly one of the best in the team. He has won Tests as captain. Although it is a different format, the confidence from that will certainly remain,” he said.
Mahmud therefore sees Shanto’s return to the T20I setup as a positive decision, but believes the batter must now justify the selection with his performances.
“After beating a big team like Australia in their own country, the team will also have confidence. So I think picking Shanto is a good choice. But, to be honest, he has to apply it and prove it on the field,” Mahmud said.
