Najmul Hossain Shanto announced his decision to step down as Bangladesh’s Test captain following the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. In a significant development, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto resigned from his leadership role after the conclusion of the Test series against Sri Lanka, which Bangladesh lost 0-1. Shanto had been appointed Test captain in November 2023, ahead of the home series against New Zealand.
Bangladesh began their ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 campaign with the Sri Lanka series. The first Test ended in a draw, but Sri Lanka dominated the second Test, winning by an innings and 78 runs.
While Bangladesh’s batting performance was impressive in the opening Test, they faltered in the second, being bowled out for 247 and 133 in their two innings. Following the series defeat, Shanto announced his decision to resign as Test captain during the post-match press conference.
Najmul Hossain Shanto Steps Down as Test Captain for the Team’s Betterment
Najmul Hossain Shanto has announced his decision to resign from the role of Bangladesh’s Test captain, emphasizing that this move is aimed solely at benefiting the team. He expressed concerns about having three different captains across the three formats, calling it an impractical approach.
“I want to share an important announcement: I am stepping down from the Bangladesh Test captaincy. I no longer wish to continue as captain in this format. Let me be clear—this decision is not personal. It is entirely for the betterment of the team, and I believe it will serve the team well. If the cricket board chooses to maintain three captains for three formats, that’s their prerogative,” Shanto stated.
Najmul Hossain Shanto added, “I hope people won’t interpret this as a reaction to being overlooked for the ODI captaincy. This is not about personal feelings. It’s purely about what’s best for the team. I had already informed the cricket operations department of my decision a few days ago.”
Earlier this month, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointed Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the new ODI captain, replacing Najmul Hossain Shanto. With Litton Das leading the T20I side, Bangladesh currently has three separate captains across all formats.
During his tenure, Shanto captained Bangladesh in 14 Tests, leading the team to four victories, nine losses, and one draw. With four Test wins, he stands as Bangladesh’s second-most successful Test captain. A career highlight was guiding Bangladesh to a historic Test series win against Pakistan last year, including their first-ever Test victory and series win on Pakistani soil.