Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto remained tight-lipped on Monday regarding widespread reports that he is set to step down from the red-ball leadership after the current two-match series against Sri Lanka. Cricket website Cricbuzz first broke the news, citing an unnamed source who claimed Shanto would relinquish the role following the conclusion of the second Test.
Addressing the media ahead of the team's training session in Colombo on Monday, Shanto refused to be drawn into the speculation. "Discussions have been ongoing, and they can continue," he stated. "I don't want to comment on this matter right now because there's a Test match in two days, and I want to play it well. I want to contribute well to this Test match, both as a captain and as a batter. For now, let the discussions remain discussions."
Posed with the suggestion that many captains choose to step down while in good form, Shanto referenced his recent back-to-back centuries. "The best moment was the back-to-back centuries in the previous Test. As captain, I could have announced it then. No, I don't have any such plans at the moment."
He further elaborated, "It's not about playing well and then leaving to show people, nor is it about not doing it if you're playing badly. Whatever is good for the team, whatever will benefit the team, that's what will be done. So, it's best not to talk too much about this right now."
Shanto concluded by appealing for calm from the media and fans. "I have one request for everyone: there's no need for too much discussion, criticism, or frenzy.
There's a very important Test match ahead, and I hope we can focus on how to play it well."
The speculation surrounding Shanto's captaincy intensified following his recent removal from the One-Day International (ODI) leadership, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking the reins. Shanto had previously stepped down from the T20I captaincy to concentrate on his batting across formats.
