In a strategic move amid uncertainty surrounding former skipper Shakib Al Hasan’s availability, Najmul Hossain Shanto has been entrusted with the captaincy role across all three formats for the Bangladesh cricket team.
The decision comes on the heels of Shanto’s recent leadership stint during a multi-format series against New Zealand in December, showcasing his potential to steer the team forward.
Shanto’s leadership skills will be put to the test as he gears up to lead Bangladesh in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, set to take place in the Caribbean and the United States in June.
With Shakib expressing his intention to relinquish the ODI captaincy post-World Cup due to a retinal condition in his left eye, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has opted to secure Shanto as the captain, considering the uncertainty surrounding Shakib’s health.
BCB President Nazmul Hassan confirmed Shanto’s appointment, emphasizing that discussions were held regarding the national team’s captaincy in light of the prevailing circumstances.
Bangladesh to be led by Najmul in absence of Shakib
Despite Shakib’s significance to the team, his ongoing eye issues have raised concerns about his availability for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
“We have elected Shanto as captain in all three formats,” BCB President Nazmul Hassan told reporters on Monday.
“We discussed the national team captaincy for the longest time in this meeting. We spoke to Shakib, who told us that his eye problem hasn’t gone away.
“We are not sure of his availability in the Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe home series. We also have to consider the T20 World Cup that’s coming up. Shakib is definitely our first choice. But we don’t want to stay in any uncertainty.”
Bangladesh’s immediate challenge lies in their upcoming series against Sri Lanka, featuring three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches scheduled from March to April. As the team braces for these crucial encounters, Shanto’s leadership will be pivotal in navigating through the challenges and steering Bangladesh towards success on the international stage.
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