25-year old Najmul Hossain Shanto appointed Bangladesh’s all format captain
In a surprising move, Najmul Hossain Shanto has been named Bangladesh’s captain across all three formats- Test, ODI, and T20I. This comes as a shock, particularly in the T20I arena, where seasoned […]
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Feb 12, 2024 9:14 pm
In a surprising move, Najmul Hossain Shanto has been named Bangladesh’s captain across all three formats- Test, ODI, and T20I. This comes as a shock, particularly in the T20I arena, where seasoned veteran Shakib Al Hasan was expected to lead the team in the upcoming World Cup. The decision, announced by BCB president Nazmul Hassan, hands Shanto the captaincy for a year. While the young batsman has impressive performances in domestic cricket and Test matches, his T20I experience is limited.
The news sparked confusion and mixed reactions. Some hailed Shanto‘s leadership potential and praised the board’s bold move to groom a future skipper. Others questioned the timing, expressing concerns about disrupting the team’s rhythm right before the T20 World Cup. Fans have also questioned the fact that he has been handed the reins for a year, which seems to suggest that there is a lot of pressure being applied on the youngster.
Najmul Hossain Shanto’s appointment could usher in the start of a new era for Bangladesh Cricket.
Another sorry T20 World Cup campaign on the cards?
Shakib‘s sudden removal is because he is suffering from an eye condition that has hindered his performance in recent times. “I have talked to Shakib. His eye issue is still causing problems. There is some uncertainty regarding his participation in Sri Lanka. The World Cup is very near. So we didn’t want to take any chance,” Nazmul Hasan said while announcing the change in guard.
This change in guard could now create a mess as far as Bangladesh’s plans for the upcoming T20 World Cup are concerned. Shanto, despite his talent, lacks international captaincy experience, particularly in the fast-paced T20 format. Bangladesh have had a history of changing captains right before a marquee event and that hasn’t helped their cause.
As such, the event will be a massive test for Shanto. If the team performs well, the captaincy change might be seen as a masterstroke, possibly securing Shanto a long-term stint. However, a poor performance could lead to the power being taken away as the board is infamous for such things.
