Shanto Steps Down as Bangladesh Test Captain After Series Defeat

COLOMBO: Following a significant loss to Sri Lanka in the second Test of their two-match series, Najmul Hossain Shanto has resigned from his position as captain of Bangladesh’s Test team, according to reports from Bangladeshi media outlets on Saturday.

This decision follows Bangladesh’s substantial defeat by an innings and 78 runs, which prompted Shanto to give up his leadership responsibilities.

Reportedly, Shanto communicated his decision to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after the match. Sources suggest that he was no longer keen to continue as the Test captain, particularly after previously being removed from the ODI captaincy earlier in the year.

Shanto captained Bangladesh in 14 Test matches, having taken on the role before the home series against New Zealand in November 2023.

During his tenure, Bangladesh secured four victories, including consecutive wins against Pakistan in August 2024, but also suffered nine defeats. The only drawn match occurred in the first Test of the recent series against Sri Lanka.

As captain, Shanto performed commendably with the bat, achieving an average of 36.24, which is higher than his average of 29.83 when not leading the team. In the four Test victories under his captaincy, he maintained a consistent average of 37.16.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka won the two-match Test series 1-0, showcasing a dominant performance in the second Test. Bangladesh scored 247 runs in their first innings, but Sri Lanka responded strongly with 458, gaining a crucial lead. Bangladesh’s batting faltered in the second innings, as they managed only 133 runs, failing to make Sri Lanka bat again.

Sri Lanka’s bowling attack was effective, with left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya taking five wickets. Dhananjaya de Silva and Tharindu Ratnayake each claimed two wickets, while Asitha Fernando contributed with one.

Pathum Nissanka was recognized as both Player of the Match and Player of the Series for his exceptional batting performances.

The three-match ODI series between the two teams is scheduled to begin on July 2 in Colombo. The second match will take place on July 5 at the same location, with the final ODI set for July 8 in Pallekele.