Najmul Hossain Shanto quits Bangladesh Cricket; captaincy replacement locked

Bangladesh cricket has been shocked, as Najmul Hossain Shanto officially stepped down as the T20I captain on Thursday, January 2, 2025. Shanto made this announcement after weeks of speculation surrounding his leadership role in the Bangladesh cricket team.

Initially, Najmul Hossain Shanto planned to resign as Bangladesh’s T20I captain after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, but he later considered stepping down from all three formats of the game. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed intervened.

Najmul Hossain Shanto resigns from T20I captaincy, focuses on Tests and ODIs

In a surprising move, Najmul Hossain Shanto was retained as the ODI captain for the series against Afghanistan, but an unfortunate injury during the series sidelined him. This decision leaves the BCB in a state of uncertainty, as they are now facing the challenges of finding a new leader.

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On Thursday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as T20I captain. However, with no immediate T20I matches scheduled, the BCB is in no rush to appoint a new skipper for the shortest format of the game. However, Najmul will continue to lead Bangladesh in Test and ODI cricket.

The BCB has discussed and agreed on Shanto’s leadership role in these two formats of the game. Litton Das, one of the Tigers' leading batters, is reportedly the front-runner to succeed Shanto as the T20I captain of the Tigers.

Shanto finally told us that he won't lead in the T20Is: BCB

A top BCB official was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “Shanto finally told us that he won't lead in the T20Is, and we accepted it, but as we don't have T20Is at the moment, we have time in hand, and so we are not picking a new captain. If there is no injury issue, Najmul will remain the captain in Tests and ODIs, and we have discussed it.”

Meanwhile, Litton Das is expected to get promoted as Bangladesh's new T20I captain after proving his leadership skills with a commanding 3-0 series victory against the West Indies. Known for his calm and confident approach, Litton has already expressed his willingness to take on the role long-term, making him a top contender to captain the Tigers in the T20Is.

However, Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead Bangladesh in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025, putting an end to speculation about a possible captaincy change for the prestigious tournament. Earlier, Mehidy Hasan had temporarily taken over as captain for the Test and ODI series against the West Indies when the regular skipper was sidelined due to injury.

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Bangladesh scheduled for an action-packed 2025

However, the team management has decided to stick with Najmul for the high-stakes tournament, which is set to be hosted in Pakistan, except for India’s matches, in February-March. Well, after a rollercoaster journey in 2024, the Bangladeshi cricket team is preparing for an action-packed 2025.

The schedule includes six Tests, 18 ODIs, and 18 T20Is, spread across six bilateral series. The team will embark on two tours abroad while hosting four series on home soil, promising an exciting year ahead for fans.