Shanto likely to step down as Test captain

Najmul Hossain Shanto is reportedly considering stepping down from Bangladesh’s Test captaincy following the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka, according to a 'Cricbuzz' report citing sources close to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

Shanto, who was appointed Test captain for a one-year term, is said to be unhappy with recent developments within the team, particularly regarding leadership decisions. He is reportedly dissatisfied with the loss of his ODI captaincy and the manner in which the new leadership was introduced.

While no official announcement has been made, it is believed that Shanto will inform the board of his decision after the series. The timing of his resignation—whether immediately after the second Test or later—will likely depend on discussions with BCB officials.

Sources suggest that Shanto had earlier expressed a desire to step down from T20 captaincy to focus on his batting, but was encouraged by the board to continue leading in both Tests and ODIs. However, on June 12, Mehidy Hasan Miraz was named the new ODI captain without prior notice to Shanto. The decision was communicated to him during an emergency Zoom meeting, and he was later informed via phone.

Following the captaincy change, Shanto reportedly skipped a scheduled meeting with head coach Phil Simmons. It is also reported that he had previously presented a strategic plan for the ODI side, including defined roles for players, which now remains unimplemented.

BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul later clarified that Shanto was not removed, but that the decision to appoint a new ODI captain was made collectively by the board, and that Shanto had accepted the decision in good spirit.