Shanto Returns as Test Captain After Resolving Dispute

Najmul Hossain Shanto is set to resume his role as Bangladesh’s Test captain after a brief hiatus that began in June, following a fallout over his sudden removal as One-Day International (ODI) skipper just a day before the team’s departure for a full series in Sri Lanka.

The controversy erupted when Shanto discovered—only after attending a pre-series press conference—that Mehidy Hasan Miraz had replaced him as ODI captain without prior notice. Though he initially refrained from commenting, the left-handed batter’s frustration later surfaced in Colombo, where he announced his resignation from the Test captaincy following the conclusion of the second Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

At the time, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) did not rush to appoint a new Test captain, as there were no scheduled Test fixtures for more than four months. However, with the upcoming home Test series against Ireland in November approaching, the board was compelled to make a decision.

According to multiple BCB sources, the decision was finalized on Wednesday night—shortly after Bangladesh’s T20 series whitewash against the West Indies in Chattogram. BCB officials reportedly persuaded Shanto to return to the Test leadership, a position he had vacated less than five months earlier.

Board insiders said BCB President Aminul Islam discussed the matter with directors immediately after the T20 series award ceremony and ultimately secured Shanto’s agreement to reassume the role.