Shanto breaks silence amid leadership turmoil
Najmul Hossain Shanto, Cricfrenzy
Rumors are swirling that Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto may step down from his leadership role following the ongoing Test series against Sri Lanka.
The speculation comes in the wake of several controversial decisions by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), most notably the sudden removal of Shanto from ODI captaincy without prior consultation.
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Earlier, Shanto had voluntarily relinquished T20 captaincy to focus on his batting, while expressing a desire to continue leading the side in Tests and ODIs.
That plan appeared to be agreed upon after discussions with the former BCB president. However, on June 12, in a surprise move, the BCB removed Shanto as ODI captain during an urgent Zoom meeting and appointed Mehidy Hasan Miraz in his place—reportedly without including the matter in the formal meeting agenda.
This unexpected development is believed to have left Shanto disappointed, though he has not publicly confirmed any such frustration. While he has been earning praise for his back-to-back centuries in the Galle Test, the leadership question looms large mid-series.
Shanto briefly addressed the speculation while speaking to the media in Sri Lanka, saying,
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“These discussions have been going on even before the Test match. Let them continue. I don’t want to comment on this right now. There are still two days left in the Test. I want to focus on contributing to the team as a captain and as a batter.”
Shanto emphasized the importance of focusing on the game rather than off-field distractions. He acknowledged that such discussions—especially during a series—are disruptive and should ideally be concluded well ahead of time to avoid unsettling the team environment.
“It’s difficult. Honestly, these conversations shouldn’t be happening, not just during a Test but during any series. I’d say even seven or eight days before a match, such issues should be resolved. The earlier, the better” he added.
“We are all professional cricketers. Everyone should try to contribute in their own roles, regardless of what is being said outside.”
