Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto doesn’t want to lead the Bangladesh Test cricket team. He is likely to end his Test captaincy at the end of the ongoing home Test series against South Africa. 

Bangladesh are currently busy hosting South Africa in a two-match Test series. While Bangladesh lost the first Test by seven wickets at Mirpur, Chattogram will host the second Test from October 29. 

Shanto recently led the Bangladesh team to win a Test series in Pakistan

Last August, Shanto led the Bangladesh Test team to create history in Pakistan. In that tour, Bangladesh not only beat Pakistan in Test cricket for the first time, but they also secured that away Test series.

However, in their next tour in India, Bangladesh lost the Test series by 2-0. Further, the Tigers lost the three-match T20I series by 3-0. 

Due to suffering three straight losses, Bangladesh have slipped down to the eighth position in the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship points table. 

Now, Shanto wants to step down from the captaincy role in Test cricket. A top BCB official also confirmed it to Cricbuzz.

The Cricbuzz report claimed that the official said, "Yes, he informed us that he is not ready to lead the side after the South Africa series.”

Later, the Bangladesh captain also talked about his present status. Shanto told Cricbuzz, “Let's see what happens (as far as leading Bangladesh is concerned) because I am still waiting to hear it from the president (BCB).”

Shanto has led the Bangladesh team in nine Test matches, where his team won three and lost six games. 

Bangladesh cricket experiencing many key changes

We can even experience Shanto’s resignation from the captaincy role in all formats. His captaincy is always under scrutiny due to a lack of consistent success. 

According to media reports, Shanto decided to step down from the T20I captaincy after their elimination from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Later, he reportedly decided to resign from leadership roles in all formats. However, he is currently active in leading the team in all three formats. 

Bangladesh cricket is now facing some massive changes. In the current political turmoil in the country, Bangladesh cricket has already seen its presidential change along with the head coach controversy and change. The senior cricketers are also deciding to retire from at least one or two formats. 

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has revealed that their recent Test successes in Pakistan have added more confidence in the team for the upcoming India tour. 

Bangladesh recently concluded a two-match Test series against the hosts Pakistan. That Test series was a part of the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship, where Bangladesh concluded the Test series by winning 2-0. Before that Test series, Bangladesh never won a Test match against Pakistan. 

Now, Bangladesh are set to travel to India for a two-match Test series, which is also a part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship. The Test series will begin in Chennai on September 19. 

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We have the extra confidence from the Pakistan series: Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto

In their 13 Tests against India, Bangladesh lost 11 matches and drew the other two games. Although Bangladesh captain Shanto is aware of the upcoming challenging series against the hosts India, he also admitted the rising confidence in the team due to recent success in Pakistan. 

Shanto said in the pre-departure press conference in Dhaka, "It will be a challenging series but we have the extra confidence from the Pakistan series. I guess the whole country has that confidence now. Every series is an opportunity. We want to win both Tests, but we have to stick to our process. If we do our job, we can get a good result.”

We want to get the result in the last session of the Test match: Najmul Hossain Shanto

In India, Bangladesh have played three Tests and lost all those matches. Shanto wants to fight in the upcoming Test series, while he also believes that the match result can go in any direction if they manage to stretch the Test matches for a longer period.  

Bangladesh captain added, "They (India) are well ahead of us in the rankings. But we did play well recently. We want to play well for five days, that's our goal. We want to get the result in the last session of the Test match. At that time, the match can go in any direction. It is an opportunity [to get our first win in India]. We will play with a win in mind. But we don't want to think too far ahead. We want to do well for five days, and play to our strength. That's most important."

Shanto also pointed out their strong bowling attack. While spinners have huge experience, the pacers are also learning very well. Bangladesh captain believes that all the players will give their 100 percent for the team to achieve brighter results.

Shanto said, "We are in a good place with our bowling attack, both spin and pace. Perhaps our pacers are behind them in terms of experience but our spin attack is close to theirs. They can bowl in any conditions. All I can say is that our pacers, spinners, and batters will give 100%.

"I think we can make a difference only if we play as a team. It is not just the spinners but the pacers and the batters also. The whole team has to play together."

In the 2023-2025 ICC World Test Championship points table, India are on top and Bangladesh are in the fourth position. 

After the Test series, Bangladesh will also play a three-match T20I series against the hosts India. 

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is determined to carry forward the momentum and belief from their recent historic series win against Pakistan into their upcoming fixtures. The Bangla Tigers, who had never previously won a Test match against Pakistan, stunned the hosts by securing a 2-0 series victory, marking a significant milestone in Bangladesh's cricketing history.

Historic win over Pakistan fuels confidence

Bangladesh’s triumph over Pakistan is only their third overseas Test series win in 24 years. The team overcame their past failures and dominated the series, leaving Pakistan winless at home since 2021. Reflecting on this remarkable achievement, Shanto emphasized that belief was the driving factor behind their victory, helping them defeat a strong Pakistan side. The win has given the team newfound confidence, with Shanto stating, "It was from my belief after seeing how hard the players worked." He also added that the success will inspire Bangladesh in future overseas matches.

"One word: belief. It feels great when you are winning. It is important to enjoy these moments. I think such a moment has never come in Bangladesh team's history. Cricketers look for references. Now we have one. We know that we have the ability to win abroad," Shanto told ESPNCricinfo.

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Bangladesh set to face India with renewed belief

Looking ahead, Bangladesh will take on India in a two-match Test series starting on September 19. Despite Bangladesh’s dismal record against India in Tests, with 11 losses in 13 matches, Shanto is confident the team will play with belief and determination. Recalling their close encounter in December 2022, when India narrowly escaped defeat, Shanto said, "The next time we play, I don’t know about the result, but we will surely have the belief that we can win." Bangladesh aims to break new records and challenge India with the same determination that saw them triumph over Pakistan.

Najmul Hossain Shanto’s appointment as Bangladesh captain across all formats earlier this year marks a significant milestone in his career. Now, he is set to steer his team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, showcasing his leadership mettle on the global stage.

Impressive Performance Against Zimbabwe

Bangladesh’s confidence was substantially boosted following their impressive 4-1 victory over Zimbabwe in the recently concluded T20I home series. This victory served as a testament to the team’s capabilities and set the stage for their campaign in the T20 World Cup.

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Key Inclusions in the Squad

The announcement of Bangladesh’s 15-member squad for the marquee event brought a blend of experience and youth. Notably, the return of seasoned all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan to T20I cricket after a hiatus of almost a year added depth to the squad. Shakib’s stellar performance in the final two T20Is against Zimbabwe, where he clinched a four-wicket haul, underscored his value to the team.

Young Talents in Focus

While Bangladesh’s squad selection did not include any major surprises, the inclusion of young quick Tanzim Hasan Sakib after his promising performances against Zimbabwe showcased the team’s commitment to nurturing emerging talents. Additionally, the selection of left-arm quick Shoriful Islam further bolstered the team’s pace attack, adding variety and depth to the bowling unit.

Group Dynamics

Bangladesh is placed in Group D alongside formidable opponents such as South Africa, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, and Nepal. The group promises to be fiercely competitive, with each team vying for a spot in the tournament’s knockout stages. Bangladesh’s journey kicks off with a crucial encounter against Sri Lanka in Dallas on June 7th.

Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Taskin Ahmed, Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Shakib Al Hasan, Tawhid Hridoy, Mahmudullah Riyad, Jaker Ali Anik, Tanvir Islam, Shak Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib. Travelling reserves: Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud

In the forthcoming two-match series against New Zealand, scheduled to commence later this month, top-order batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto is set to take the helm as the leader of the Bangladesh cricket team.

This confirmation was conveyed by Jalal Younus, the chairman of the cricket operation department at the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), during a media briefing held on Saturday, November 18, 2023.

Shanto’s leadership role is not entirely new, as he previously captained the team in two matches during the ICC World Cup 2023. This responsibility was shouldered when the regular captain, Shakib Al Hasan, faced injury concerns and was unavailable for play. Shakib, who deemed the World Cup as one of the worst for Bangladesh, will also be absent from the upcoming Test series as he continues his recovery from a finger injury.

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Adding to the team’s adjustments, opener Litton Das has been granted a one-month leave. The cricketer sought time off due to the recent joyous occasion of becoming a father to a baby girl. Confirming this development, Jalal emphasized the board’s understanding of Litton’s need for leave during this special time.

Furthermore, the coaching staff is undergoing changes, with the resignation of Allan Donald from his position as the pace bowling coach of Bangladesh. In light of his departure, coaches from the high-performance unit may step in to fulfill his role until a suitable replacement is appointed.

The BCB has announced its intention to promptly select a new pace-bowling coach to ensure the team’s continued development and success in the upcoming series and beyond.

Long and patient partnerships have been somewhat scarce in recent times, with T20 cricket series and leagues taking center stage in the past few months. However, the onset of the Asia Cup has reintroduced us to some memorable partnerships. Whether it’s the commanding performance of Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed against Nepal or the crisis-solving collaboration of Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya against Pakistan, noteworthy partnerships have become a highlight of the tournament and yesterday’s display was no exception.

While Mehidy Hasan has long been acknowledged for his precision as a bowler, his batting abilities have often taken a back seat. However, since the year 2022, there has been a noticeable shift in his batting performance. In ODIs, he has maintained an average of 34 with a striking rate approaching 80, underscoring his growing proficiency with the bat. The last time he opened the innings for Bangladesh dates back to the 2018 Asia Cup finals against India. In that memorable match, he partnered brilliantly with Litton Das, contributing a valuable 32 runs to the team’s cause.

Fast forward to 5 years from then, Bangladesh provided a similar role to Mehidy ahead of their must win match against Afghanistan. After the loss of 2 wickets within the 10 over mark, he was joined in by Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has been one of the pillars of Bangladesh’s batting for the past couple of years. Together, they knitted a brilliant 194 run stand and ensure that Afghanistan are provided with a monumental task in hand.

In this article, we will breakdown this partnership by delving into a phase wise analysis.

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Mehidy hasan and Najmul Shanto’s record breaking stand

Both the batters did start off on a slow note due to the fall of two quick wickets, but they tried to maintain a healthy run rate by scoring boundaries of mediocre deliveries. Within the first 40 balls, while they did have a good boundary percentage, their dot percentage was equally high which in turn resulted in their low non boundary strike rate. But once the spinners started to bowl at tandem in the middle overs, the two batters kept rotating the strike frequently and ensured that the frequency in dot balls reduced. This is further backed by their high non boundary strike rate in the next 40 deliveries.

After both batsmen had established themselves at the crease, they began to actively seek ways to boost the run rate by accumulating more boundaries. This intent is reflected in the rise in their boundary percentage from the 81st to the 140th delivery of their partnership. However, their focus on finding the fence didn’t deter them from capitalizing on quick singles and twos, as their non-boundary strike rate remained impressively high.

While their last phase was only about 10 deliveries, they maximized the scoring rate and had a strike rate of 240 in the last phase. It was cut short due to the niggle that Mehidy Hasan picked up in his long stay at the crease. The remarkable partnership resulted in Bangladesh posting an imposing total of 334 runs, a target that proved insurmountable for Afghanistan to chase down.