Najmul Shanto steps down as Bangladesh captain after series loss against Sri Lanka

Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as Bangladesh Test captain following the 1-0 series defeat in Sri Lanka.

Making the announcement at the press conference after Bangladesh lost the Test by an innings and 78 runs, Shanto said, “I don’t want to continue [as captain] in the Test format anymore.”

“This is not personal. I have taken the decision for the betterment of the team,” Shanto said. “I think this will help the team. I have been a part of the dressing room for the past few years. I think three captains [for the three international formats] is not sensible. I don’t know what the board will feel about this, and I will support their decision. But this is my personal decision. I think three separate captains will be difficult for the team to deal with.

“I would want that no one feels this decision is emotional, or that I am disappointed by something. I want to make this clear. This is for the betterment of the team.

Shanto said that he had informed the BCB’s cricket operations department of his decision “some days back”. He had been replaced as ODI captain by Mehidy Hasan Miraz earlier this month.

Shanto led Bangladesh in 14 Tests, having taken charge prior to the home series against New Zealand in November 2023. 
Bangladesh won four of the games under him, including, memorably, two in two in Pakistan in August 2024, but also lost nine.

The first Test of the series in Sri Lanka was the only one to end in a draw.

His own form with the bat had been good as captain: an average of 36.24 as opposed to an average of 29.83 when he hasn’t been the captain. And in the four Tests Bangladesh won under him, Shanto scored at 37.16.

- Espncricinfo