Najmul Hossain Shanto Archives

Shanto dropped as Bangladesh names squad for Sri Lanka T20Is

Bangladesh has named a 16-member squad for the three-match series against Sri Lanka, with former captain Najmul Hossain Shanto left out of the team.

The tigers have made five changes to their squad that have previously faced Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Shanto, who featured in one of only six T20Is played against Pakistan and UAE, has been omitted following his concerning form in the shortest format.

The left-handed batter, who enjoyed a rich vein of form in the recently concluded Test series against Sri Lanka, struggled to find his rhythm in T20Is throughout 2024. The top-order batter only averaged 18.84 in 21 T20Is with just a single half-century.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Opening batter Mohammad Naim has been included in the squad in place of Najmul Hossain Shanto, while experienced pacers Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman are also included after recovering from injuries.

All-rounder Mohammad Saifuddin was among the notable inclusions in the Bangladesh squad who earned a recall after more than a year. He is added to the back of his strong performances in Bangladesh’s premier domestic white-ball competitions.

Bangladesh has a busy schedule ahead, with three T20Is against Sri Lanka and Pakistan before the 2025 Asia Cup.

The series against Sri Lanka will commence in Bangladesh on July 10 in Pallekele, followed by the second T20I on July 13 in Dambulla. The final match of the series will be played on July 16 in Colombo.

Bangladesh squad:

Litton Das (capt, wk), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mohammad Naim, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Shamim Hossain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mohammad Saifuddin.

READ: Pakistan set to appoint renowned Australian as fielding coach: reports

Najmul Hossain Shanto resigns as Bangladesh Test captain after Sri Lanka defeat

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down from his position following the team’s crushing defeat by an innings and 78 runs in the second Test against Sri Lanka, bringing an end to his tenure less than a year after taking charge.

As reported by Bangladeshi media, the 26-year-old informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) of his decision shortly after the loss, signalling that he is no longer interested in continuing in the leadership role, particularly after being relieved of ODI captaincy duties earlier this year.

Shanto had taken over the red-ball reins ahead of the home Test series against New Zealand in November 2023 and led Bangladesh in 14 matches.

His record as captain includes four wins, notably back-to-back victories over Pakistan in August 2024, alongside nine defeats and one draw, which came in the opening Test of the recently concluded Sri Lanka series.

Despite the mixed results, Najmul Hossain Shanto gave decent performances with the bat during his captaincy.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

He averaged 36.24 as skipper, in contrast to his 29.83 average as a non-captain. In the four wins under his leadership, he maintained a healthy average of 37.16.

The decision to resign follows a forgettable performance by Bangladesh in the second Test in Colombo.

After managing 247 in the first innings, they were outplayed in all departments. Sri Lanka piled up a massive 458 in response, before skittling Bangladesh out for just 133 in their second innings.

Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya was the chief destroyer, picking up a five-wicket haul, while Dhananjaya de Silva and Tharindu Ratnayake chipped in with two wickets apiece.

Pathum Nissanka, who impressed throughout the series, walked away with both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards for his consistent run-scoring.

The two sides will now shift focus to the white-ball leg of the tour. The three-match ODI series begins on July 2 in Colombo, with the second game scheduled for July 5 at the same venue. The series will conclude in Pallekele on July 8.

READ: Josh Hazlewood takes five as Australia thump West Indies in first Test

Bangladesh captain sends warning to India ahead of Champions Trophy clash

DUBAI: Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto sent a warning to India on Wednesday ahead of their opening match against India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 opener on 20 February.

While addressing a presser, Shanto expressed his confidence in his team’s ability to beat any opponent, emphasizing the strength of their pace attack.

“I think we have always struggled with our seam attack, but in the last couple of years, we have developed some quality fast bowlers,” said Shanto.

“Now we have Nahid Rana and Taskin (Ahmed), and the way they are bowling helps a lot. As a captain, I love to see them bowling fast,” he added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Bangladesh’s young fast bowler Nahid Rana has impressed with his performance since breaking into the national side.

The Bangladesh skipper praised the seamer for bringing energy to the team.

“I think over the last few months, he has bowled really well and with great pace when we see him bowling like this on the ground, it lifts our whole bowling unit and motivates us to challenge our opponents,” the left-handed batter added.

Najmul Hossain Shanto further revealed that his team stands a strong chance against any opponent if they play to their strengths and execute their plans effectively.

“We believe we can beat any team in this tournament. Every team here is capable of winning,” he remarked.

“But I am not someone who focuses too much on the opponent. If we execute our plans properly, we can beat any team,” he concluded ahead of the Bangladesh match against India tomorrow.

Bangladesh Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Nazmul Hossain Shanto (c), Soumya Sarkar, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali Anik, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (VC), Rishad Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Parvez Hossain Emon, Nasum Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Nahid Rana.

READ: Champions Trophy: Young, Latham hit tons as New Zealand defeat Pakistan

Najmul Hossain Shanto steps down as Bangladesh T20I captain

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officially announced on Thursday that Najmul Hossain Shanto has chosen to resign from his position as the national T20I captain.

This decision comes on the heels of his earlier statements indicating that he would not be continuing in this role following the conclusion of the home series against South Africa last year.

Initially, Najmul had contemplated stepping down from the T20I captaincy after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, which took place in the USA and West Indies.

However, after a period of reflection, he has decided to withdraw from leadership responsibilities altogether across all formats of the game.

Although the BCB had initially supported Najmul’s decision to step back, a twist in the narrative occurred when BCB President Faruque Ahmed intervened unexpectedly.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Ahmed’s intervention resulted in Najmul’s reinstatement as captain for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. However, Najmul’s leadership was cut short due to an injury incurred during the series.

“Shanto finally told us that he won’t lead in the T20Is, and we accepted it. But since we don’t have T20Is at the moment, we have time on hand, so we are not picking a new captain,” a senior BCB official said.

However, he confirmed that Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead Bangladesh in the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, which is scheduled for Pakistan in February-March.

“If there is no injury issue, Najmul will remain the captain for Tests and ODIs, and we have discussed it,” he added.

READ: Gautam Gambhir tight-lipped on Rohit Sharma’s participation in final Australia Test

Bangladesh captain imitates Lionel Messi after series victory over Pakistan

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto imitated Argentinan football star Lionel Messi in a heartfelt social media post after the historic Test series victory against Pakistan.

Bangladesh outclassed Pakistan by six wickets in the second Test match to complete the clean sweep and win their first-ever series against the Green Shirts. The touring side had won the first Test thumpingly by 10 wickets.

Shanto, who made history as the first Bangladeshi cricketer to defeat Pakistan in Test cricket, shared a photo on his official Facebook account today.

In the picture, he can be seen peacefully sleeping alongside the hard-earned trophy, with a caption — “Good morning.”

The Bangladesh captain’s photo imitated the iconic picture of Lionel Messi, where he was seen sleeping alongside the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy in 2022.

Najmul Hossain Shanto was visibly speechless following the team’s momentous victory yesterday. “We can’t express feelings with words, we are really happy,” he said.

“I think before we came here we were looking to win, and the way everyone did their job made me really happy.”

Set to chase a modest 185, Bangladesh knocked the winning runs in the second session of the final day, just 25 minutes before the Tea Break.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Opening batter Zakir Hasan provided Bangladesh with a solid platform with a brisk 40-run knock from just 39 balls.

Following his departure, skipper Najmul Hasan Shanto anchored the run-chase with a sensible 38-run knock.

Later, an unbeaten 32-run partnership for the fifth wicket between veterans Shakib Al Hasan (22*) and Mushfiqur Rahim (21*) steered Bangladesh to a historic victory.

READ: Babar Azam crashed out of the top ten in the ICC Test Rankings

Najmul Hossain Shanto to lead Bangladesh in New Zealand ODIs, T20Is

Bangladesh named batsman Najmul Hossain Shanto as the country’s ODI and T20I captain for the tour of New Zealand next month.

Bangladesh will tour New Zealand to play three ODI matches and three T20Is between December 17 and December 31.

Najmul Hossain Shanto, who is currently leading the country’s Test side against New Zealand in a home series, has been promoted to the new role in the absence of regular limited-over captain Shakib Al Hasan.

Shakib Al Hasan is unavailable for the series as he has recently moved into politics to contest the upcoming general election on January 7 as a candidate of the ruling Awami League.

All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been named as Najmul’s deputy for the white-ball tour of New Zealand.

Opening batter Liton Das returns to the squad for the ODI series against New Zealand, which also included uncapped left-arm spinner Rakibul Hasan.

Bangladesh ODI squad

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Tanzid Hasan, Anamul Haque, Towhid Hridoy, Mushfiqur Rahim, Liton Das, Afif Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Tanzim Hasan, Hasan Mahmud, Rishad Hossain, Rakibul Hasan.

Bangladesh T20I squad

Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Liton Das, Rony Talukdar, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mahedi Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Tanzim Hasan.

READ: India announce three different captains for multi-format South Africa series

Najmul Hossain Shanto puts Bangladesh in control against New Zealand

SYLHET: Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto hit his third Test century in the last four innings to put his side on course for a strong total in the second innings of the first Test against New Zealand.

The hosts reached 212-3 at stumps on the third day, leading New Zealand by 205 runs, with Najmul unbeaten on 104.

Former captain Mushfiqur Rahim made an unbeaten 43 and put on 96 runs in the unbroken fourth-wicket stand with Najmul.

Najmul, who scored a century in both innings of Bangladesh’s previous Test against Afghanistan in June, also shared 90 runs with Mominul Haque for the third wicket.

The left-hander has now become the first Bangladeshi cricketer to score a hundred on his debut as Test captain.

He took his hundred, his fourth in Tests, with a single off Ajaz Patel in 191 balls before signing off the day in style with a boundary in the last ball.

The 25-year-old has struck 10 fours so far in his innings.

He was however involved in two runouts on the day, with the last being Mominul, who made 40.

Najmul and Mominul helped Bangladesh recover from 26-2 after New Zealand made 317 in their first innings to take a slender seven-run lead.

Mominul praised Najmul for his “outstanding” batting.

“He knows very well about his game and has a clear mind,” Mominul said.

Patel, the only New Zealand bowler with some success on the day, trapped opener Zakir Hasan leg-before for 17.

Tim Southee directed a straight drive by Najmul onto the stumps at the non-striking end to run out Mahmudul Hasan for eight next over.

Mominul, who joined Najmul in the rescue act, was also the hero for Bangladesh with the ball, having taken the last two New Zealand wickets in the morning.

The tourists, replying to Bangladesh’s first-innings 310, resumed on 266-8, still 44 runs behind.

Southee and Kyle Jamieson frustrated Bangladesh for more than an hour to share 52 runs for the ninth wicket until left-arm spinner Mominul removed them both in the same over.

Mominul trapped Jamieson leg-before for 23 to leave New Zealand 316-9 and then bowled Southee four balls later for 35 to finish with career-best figures of 3-4.

“We definitely didn’t think it was going to be easy to rock up in the second innings and knock them over,” Jamieson said.

“We’ve still got some work to do tomorrow and try and chip out a few more.”

Southee hit three boundaries in his 62-ball stay.

The two-match series is the beginning of a new cycle in the World Test Championship for both teams.

READ: Super Eight stage of National T20 Cup 2023-24 to commence tomorrow

Najmul Shanto ton guides Bangladesh to 362-5 against Afghanistan

DHAKA: Najmul Hossain struck his third Test century as Bangladesh dominated a hapless Afghanistan to score 362-5 on the first day of the one-off Test in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Najmul Hossain Shanto made 146 off 175 balls and set up an imposing total in his 212-run second-wicket partnership with Mahmudul Hasan, who hit 76 to make his third Test fifty.

Mushfiqur Rahim was not out on 41 alongside Mehidy Hasan Miraz on 43 when bad light forced stumps with 11 overs left on the opening day.

Afghanistan, who are without talismanic all-rounder Rashid Khan, were on the back foot for most of the day after electing to bowl first on a rare green-top wicket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

Debutant medium pacer Nijat Masood was the most successful Afghan bowler with 2-67, removing Zakir Hasan for one on his very first Test delivery in the second over.

The sharp catch from wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai had to be confirmed by the television umpire after an initial decision of not out.

But Najmul and Mahmudul immediately forged a strong partnership to take control of the proceedings and deny the visitors further momentum.

Najmul hit back-to-back fours off Yamin Ahmadzai in the first over he came to bat and brought up his fifty off 58 balls with a boundary off leg-spinner Zahir.

Occasional spinner Rahmat Shah broke their partnership when Mahumdul attempted a cut shot only to edge a catch to Ibrahim Zadran at slip.

Mahmudul hit nine boundaries in his sedate 137-ball innings.

Afghanistan enjoyed a brief spell of success in the post-tea session when Nijat dismissed Mominul Haque, caught behind down the leg side, for 15.

Najmul fell soon after, heaving a catch to Nasir Jamal at deep midwicket off left-arm spinner Amir Hamza in his attempt for his third six in the innings.

The 24-year-old left-hander smashed 23 fours in his sizzling innings.

Stand-in captain Liton Das followed him quickly, poking Zahir to Ibrahim at slip after making nine runs.

But Mushfiqur and Mehidy halted further collapse and slowly reestablished Bangladesh’s authority with their unbroken 72-run sixth wicket stand.

Afghanistan won the only other Test between the two teams when they beat the home side by 224 runs at Chittagong in 2019.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed hopeful for Pakistan to win World Cup