Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as Bangladesh’s T20I captain, ending his tenure in the leadership role. Shanto’s resignation comes amid ongoing discussions about the team’s future direction. While the reasons remain unclear, the decision marks a significant shift in Bangladesh’s T20I strategy as they prepare for upcoming international commitments.
Najmul Hossain Shanto Steps Down as Bangladesh’s T20I Captain
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed on January 2 that Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as the national T20I captain. While Cricbuzz had earlier reported his intention to relinquish leadership after the South Africa series, Najmul’s initial plan was to step down after the 2024 World Cup. However, he later expressed a desire to quit captaincy in all three formats, a decision that was overturned following discussions with BCB President Faruque Ahmed.
Litton Das Likely to Continue as T20I Captain
Although Najmul has officially relinquished the T20I captaincy, the BCB has decided not to name a replacement immediately, as no T20I series is scheduled in the near future. Litton Das, who successfully led the team to a 3-0 series win over the West Indies and expressed willingness for long-term leadership, is expected to take over as T20I captain.
Najmul to Lead in Tests and ODIs; Champions Trophy Role Confirmed
Despite stepping down from T20I leadership, Najmul Hossain Shanto is set to retain the captaincy in Test and ODI formats, provided he remains injury-free. He will also lead Bangladesh in the upcoming Champions Trophy. There were earlier speculations about Mehedy Hasan taking over as captain, but he served only as a stand-in during the West Indies tour when the regular skipper was unavailable due to injury.