Najmul Hossain Shanto Steps Down as Bangladesh T20I Captain

Najmul Hossain Shanto has decided to step down as the T20I captain of Bangladesh, ending his tenure in the shortest format of the game. This decision follows earlier deliberations about resigning, which were initially reconsidered due to encouragement from Faruque Ahmed, the former Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president. Despite this, Shanto has now made up his mind to relinquish the role.

However, Shanto will continue as the captain for Bangladesh's ODI and Test teams, where he remains a crucial leader.

Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as Bangladesh T20I captain, but will continue to lead in Tests and ODIs 🇧🇩

Full story: https://t.co/BEzmTQf67M pic.twitter.com/3HYFV4KaSy

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) January 2, 2025

Official Resignation and BCB's Response

As per reports from Cricbuzz, Shanto officially informed the BCB about his intention to step down as T20I captain. The board accepted his request and has decided not to rush the selection of a new leader, given the lack of immediate T20I fixtures.

A BCB official stated, “Shanto has informed us that he doesn’t wish to lead in T20Is anymore, and we have accepted that. Since there are no T20Is scheduled soon, we have time to decide on a new captain. Assuming no injuries occur, Najmul will remain our captain for Tests and ODIs, which we have already talked about.”

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Litton Das: The Likely Successor

While no official announcement has been made, Litton Das appears to be the frontrunner to replace Shanto as the T20I captain. Litton recently led Bangladesh to a series sweep against the West Indies, further cementing his candidacy for the role.

Litton has captained Bangladesh in four T20I matches, winning three and losing just one. In comparison, Shanto’s record as captain includes 24 matches with 10 victories, 13 losses, and one no-result. This gives Shanto a win rate of 41.66%, with losses accounting for 54.16%.

Future Challenges and Upcoming Matches

As Shanto transitions from T20I leadership, his focus will shift to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, where Bangladesh is slated to face India in their opening match on February 20 in Dubai. Placed in Group A alongside India, Pakistan, and New Zealand, Bangladesh faces a tough challenge ahead. Many expect Shanto to play a vital role in steering the team through this high-profile tournament.