NEW DELHI: Najmul Hossain Shanto has introduced his choice to step down as Bangladesh’s Test captain following the staff’s 1-0 collection defeat towards Sri Lanka, capped by an innings-and-78-run loss within the second Test in Colombo.At the put up-match press convention, Shanto clarified that his choice was motivated by the staff’s lengthy-time period pursuits and never private disappointment.“I don’t want to continue (as captain) in the Test format anymore,” Shanto stated. “This is not personal. I have taken the decision for the betterment of the team. 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.”He underlined that his choice was neither impulsive nor a response to the latest defeat.“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 additionally shared that he had already communicated his intent to step down to the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s cricket operations division “some days back.”Earlier this month, Shanto had additionally been changed as Bangladesh’s ODI captain, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking up the management duties in that format.
Shanto started his tenure as Test captain in November 2023 through the house collection towards New Zealand. Under his management, Bangladesh performed 14 Tests, successful 4 — together with two landmark victories in Pakistan in August 2024 — dropping 9, and drawing one.Despite blended staff outcomes, Shanto’s particular person kind as captain remained stable. He averaged 36.24 in Tests whereas main, in comparison with 29.83 when not captaining. In Bangladesh’s 4 Test wins underneath his captaincy, he averaged 37.16 with the bat.