Bangladesh Test Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto Resigns After Sri Lanka Defeat

Najmul Hossain Relinquishes Role as Bangladesh Test Skipper

Najmul Hossain Shanto has resigned from his position as captain of the Bangladesh Test team. This announcement follows Bangladesh's disappointing innings defeat by 78 runs against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Najmul Hossain steps down after recent ODI captaincy change © AFP

Addressing the media after the match, Najmul Hossain stated, "I have an announcement to make. I am stepping down from the Bangladesh Test captaincy." He emphasized that his decision was not based on personal reasons, but rather for "the betterment of the team." He believes this move will ultimately benefit the team's performance.

Najmul further explained his rationale, suggesting that having separate captains for each format – Test, ODI, and T20I – might not be ideal for Bangladesh. He highlighted the recent appointment of Mehidy Hasan as ODI captain and his own previous resignation as T20I captain as factors influencing his decision.

"Over the last few years, I have had the opportunity to be in this dressing room, and I don't feel it is logical to have three captains for three formats. This is completely my personal opinion." He acknowledged that the Bangladesh Cricket Board might have a different perspective, which he respects. "In my view, having three captains will be difficult for the team. So, for the betterment of the team, I am stepping down," he elaborated.

He reiterated that his decision should not be interpreted as a reaction to being overlooked for the ODI captaincy. "I want to make it clear again: this is for the betterment of the team. There is nothing personal here," he asserted.

Najmul also revealed that he had communicated his intentions to the cricket operations department several days prior to the public announcement.