Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as Bangladesh Test Captain. Shanto announced his decision after Bangladesh’s defeat by an innings and 78 runs to Sri Lanka in Colombo yesterday (28).

“I have an announcement to make,” he said at the post-match press conference. “I am stepping down from the Bangladesh Test captaincy. I don’t want to continue as Captain in this format and I want to give a clear message to everyone: this is not a personal matter. It is entirely for the betterment of the team and I believe this will help the team,” he said. 

Shanto added that he didn’t feel Bangladesh needed three captains in three formats and thus had decided to step down. 

Bangladesh recently handed over the ODI captaincy to Mehidy Hasan Miraz while Shanto earlier stepped down as T20I Captain.

“Over the last few years, I have had the opportunity to be in this dressing room, and I don’t feel it is logical to have three captains for three formats. This is completely my personal opinion. The cricket board might think otherwise and I fully respect that. In my view, having three captains will be difficult for the team. So, for the betterment of the team, I am stepping down,” he explained.

“If the cricket board feels they will continue with three captains in three formats, that will be their decision. I just hope people don’t see this as a personal issue or think I did this because I felt bad about the ODI captaincy snub. I want to make it clear again: this is for the betterment of the team. There is nothing personal here,” he added. 

(Source: Agencies)