Following Bangladesh's crushing innings-and-78-run defeat in the second Test in Colombo, Nazmul Hossain Shanto announced that he is stepping down as the country's Test captain, stressing that his decision is aimed at ensuring team stability and not driven by personal emotions.
“I don't want to continue [as captain] in the Test format anymore,” Shanto said during the post-match press conference Saturday.
“This is not personal. I have taken the decision for the betterment of the team.”
Bangladesh’s 1-0 series defeat against Sri Lanka concluded a difficult campaign, despite Shanto’s own form with the bat - particularly the two centuries he struck in the drawn first Test in Galle.
But the heavy loss in Colombo, where the team folded for 133 in the second innings, brought underlying issues into sharper focus.
"I think three captains [across formats] is not sensible. It will be difficult for the team to deal with," he explained.
"I don't know what the board will feel about this, and I will support their decision. But this is my personal decision."
The 26-year old clarified that this was a proactive move rather than a reactive one: “I want to make this clear. This is not emotional, nor am I disappointed by anything. I made this decision some days back and informed the board. I genuinely believe this is what’s best for the team.”
Shanto had earlier been relieved of One Day International captaincy duties, with Mehedi Hasan Miraz taking over.
Now stepping away from the Test leadership role as well, his departure leaves Bangladesh’s red-ball leadership in question ahead of their next assignment.
Appointed captain in late 2023, Shanto led Bangladesh in 14 Tests, winning four and losing nine.
His tenure saw historic back-to-back away wins in Pakistan in August 2024.
