Shanto likely to step down as Bangladesh captain

|| CF DESK ||

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto has expressed his desire to step down from the captaincy in all three formats after the Chattogram Test against South Africa.

As reported by Cricbuzz, Shanto has already informed BCB President Faruque Ahmed of his decision. Since Faruque is currently abroad, Shanto’s decision remains pending since he is awaiting the board president's approval.

A BCB official confirmed to Cricbuzz, saying, “Yes, Shanto has informed us of his wish to relinquish the captaincy after the South Africa series.” Shanto also acknowledged the matter, adding, “Let’s see what happens, as the captaincy seems to be a concern. I’m waiting for the board president’s decision.”

Shanto enjoyed a stellar 2023 with the bat, showcasing impressive performances, including a standout series against England, an ODI century against Ireland, and another in the Asia Cup against Afghanistan. He also scored centuries in both innings of a Test against Afghanistan and led Bangladesh to a Test victory over New Zealand in Sylhet with a crucial century as the stand-in captain.

However, his batting form has waned since taking on the captaincy. In his last 13 Test innings, Shanto managed only one half-century, and his T20 form has also suffered, with no significant scores since the World Cup.

Despite scoring a single ODI century in this period, Cricbuzz noted that Shanto initially considered stepping down from the T20 captaincy after the World Cup but has now decided to relinquish the leadership in all formats.

A board official suggested that Shanto reconsider his decision, but the batter appears resolute. Shanto was appointed as the captain for all three formats in February on a one-year term, with his tenure intended to last until the Champions Trophy in Pakistan. However, he now seeks to be relieved of the responsibility sooner.

Another BCB official commented that it may be unwise to push Shanto into a role he is no longer interested in.

The official recommended that Mehidy Hasan Miraz could take over the ODI and Test captaincy, while Towhid Hridoy might be a suitable candidate for T20 leadership.