Najmul Hossain Shanto quits as Bangladesh Test captain after series defeat in Sri Lanka
Najmul Hossain Shanto has announced that he is stepping down as Bangladesh Test captain after his team slipped to a 1-0 series defeat in Sri Lanka on Saturday.
Najmul Hossain Shanto Sri Lanka completed an innings and 78-run victory in Colombo after the visitors were bundled out for just 133 in the second innings.
It was a far cry from the first Test in Galle that ended in a draw after both teams amassed totals of more than 400 in the first innings.
Shanto explained after the loss in the second Test that he is stepping down as he does not feel Bangladesh should have three captains in three formats.
He said: "I am stepping down from the Bangladesh Test captaincy. I don't want to continue as captain in this format, and I want to give a clear message to everyone: this is not a personal matter.
"It is entirely for the betterment of the team, and I believe this will help the team. If the cricket board feels they will continue with three captains in three formats, that will be their decision."
Shanto had been Bangladesh's skipper in all three formats earlier this year but quit the T20I role before being replaced as ODI captain by Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
Under Shanto, Bangladesh won four out of 14 Tests. They started by beating New Zealand in Sylhet in November 2023 and peaked with a series win over Pakistan in August 2024.
