Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has served as the captain of Bangladesh’s cricket team across all three formats, has officially stepped down as the leader of the T20 side.
The announcement was confirmed by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruk Ahmed, who stated that Shanto had conveyed his decision to relinquish the T20 captaincy.
Shanto’s recent performances in the T20 format have been underwhelming, with his last fifty coming nearly a year ago on 6 March 2023 against Sri Lanka. Since then, he has batted in 19 innings without reaching the half-century mark. This prolonged dry spell eventually led to his decision to step down as T20 captain.
The batsman’s struggles are not limited to the shortest format of the game; his poor form has also affected his performances in One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and Test matches. However, Shanto will retain his captaincy roles in both formats for the time being.
BCB President Faruq Ahmed remarked, "Shanto has finally informed us that he will no longer continue as the T20 captain. We have accepted his decision. Since there are no immediate T20 matches, we will not announce a new captain just yet. Unless there are injury concerns, Shanto will remain the captain for ODIs and Tests."
As discussions for the next T20 captain intensify, several names have emerged as potential candidates, including Liton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Taskin Ahmed.
However, Taskin’s susceptibility to injuries and Miraz’s lack of a permanent spot in the T20 side may rule them out of contention.
Recently, under Liton Das’s leadership, Bangladesh swept West Indies 3-0 in a T20 series, a feat that further solidifies his credentials. Liton has publicly expressed his readiness for a long-term leadership role, aligning with BCB’s future plans. Consequently, he is widely regarded as the frontrunner to lead the T20 side in the upcoming series against Zimbabwe.
