India, Nov 3 : The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Saturday confirmed that Najmul Hossain Shanto will continue to lead the national team in Test cricket until the conclusion of the 2025–2027 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
The decision marks a significant comeback for the 27 year old batter, who had stepped down from the Test captaincy earlier this year following Bangladesh’s 1-0 home series defeat to Sri Lanka in June. At that time, Shanto had said that having three separate captains across formats “would be difficult for the team to deal with.”
Previously appointed as Bangladesh’s all-format skipper, Shanto relinquished T20I leadership to Litton Das and was later replaced by Mehidy Hasan Miraz as ODI captain. However, ahead of the upcoming two-Test series against Ireland beginning November 11 in Sylhet, the BCB reinstated him as Test captain, emphasizing the need for continuity in leadership during the ongoing WTC cycle.
BCB President Md Aminul Islam praised Shanto’s temperament and leadership qualities, noting that his understanding of red-ball cricket has contributed to the team’s growth. “Shanto has shown composure, commitment, and a deep understanding of Test cricket. Under his leadership, we have seen growth, belief, and consistency. The Board believes that continuity in leadership will be crucial as we move forward in this World Test Championship cycle,” Aminul said in a statement.
Expressing gratitude for the renewed trust, Shanto said, “It’s a great honour to continue leading Bangladesh in Test cricket. I am thankful to the Board for their confidence in my captaincy. Leading my country in the longest format is the greatest pride of my life, and I will do everything I can to meet this responsibility.”
He added that Bangladesh’s upcoming series against Ireland marks “an exciting and positive period” for the team’s red-ball ambitions.
Since assuming captaincy in 2023, Shanto has led Bangladesh in 14 Tests, winning four, losing nine, and drawing one. His most notable achievement came in August 2024, when Bangladesh scripted history with a 2-0 Test series win in Pakistan — their first-ever away series victory in the country.