Najmul Hossain Shanto steps down as Bangladesh Test captain

Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as the country’s Test captain following Saturday’s defeat to Sri Lanka in Colombo.

“I don’t want to continue [as captain] in the Test format anymore. This is not personal. I have taken the decision for the betterment of the team,” said Shanto at the post-match press conference.

“I think this will help the team. I have been a part of the dressing room for the past few teams. I think three captains [for the three international formats] is not sensible. I don’t know what the board will feel about this, and I will support their decision. But this is my personal decision. I think three separate captains will be difficult for the team to deal with,” said Shanto.

Earlier this month, the 26-year-old was replaced as ODI captain by Mehidy Hasan Miraz. In May 2025, Litton Das was appointed captain of Bangladesh’s T20I side.

“I would want that no one feels this decision is emotional, or that I am disappointed by something. I want to make this clear. This is for the betterment of the team,” added Shanto.

After taking over as Test captain in November 2023, Shanto led Bangladesh in 14 Tests, winning four of them, including two in two in Pakistan in a memorable series win.

Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto holds trophy after winning the test cricket series against Pakistan.
| Photo Credit:
Anjum Naveed/AP

Shanto ended his Test captaincy stint with a 0-1 series defeat to Sri Lanka. The left-handed batter was the top-scorer for Bangladesh in the series, scoring 300 runs from four innings.