In a surprising development, Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as Bangladesh’s captain for the T20I format. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed the news following widespread reports. According to Cricbuzz, Shanto had initially decided to step down from his T20I captaincy duties after the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies. However, he eventually chose to relinquish the leadership role in all formats.
Shanto’s decision came after his involvement in the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, where he played despite picking up an injury. BCB President Faruque Ahmed was involved in discussions, but Shanto informed the board of his decision to step down as T20I captain, which they accepted. A BCB official stated that the board will not appoint a new T20I captain yet, as no T20Is are scheduled soon. Shanto is expected to remain captain in Tests and ODIs unless injury issues arise.
During his captaincy, Shanto led Bangladesh to three wins from 10 Test matches, four wins from 11 ODIs, and 10 victories from 24 T20Is. His leadership, however, seemed to affect his batting form, and his decision to step down could allow him to focus on his performance.
Litton Das is seen as a potential long-term replacement for Shanto, particularly after leading Bangladesh to a 3-0 series win over the West Indies. Shanto is set to return as captain for the 2025 Champions Trophy, with Mehedy Hasan likely to take over as interim captain for the West Indies’ 50-over and Test tour.
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