Report: Shanto is reluctant to remain the captain of the Bangladesh team

Bangladesh cricket team captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is reportedly reluctant to continue in his position, according to an international cricket media outlet on Saturday.

This news comes as the Bangladesh team prepares for their second Test against South Africa in Chattogram, which is set to begin on October 29.

Cricbuzz, a cricket website, has reported that Shanto has expressed his desire to step down and has communicated this to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). He is currently awaiting a response from the board.

Shanto, a left-handed batsman, was appointed as the captain of Bangladesh across all formats in February 2024. He has indicated that he wishes to resign from his captaincy after the upcoming second Test against South Africa.

The reasons behind his decision remain unclear. Recently, he has faced criticism for his poor batting performance, and his captaincy has been seen as lacking the innovative strategies often associated with effective leadership.

The board has not yet commented on Shanto’s intention to resign, and it is uncertain who would take over the captaincy should he decide to step down.

Throughout his tenure, Shanto led Bangladesh in nine Tests, nine ODIs, and 24 T20Is. One of his notable achievements as captain was leading the team to a 2-0 victory over Pakistan in a two-match Test series.