Shanto steps down from T20I captaincy, keeps ODI and Test roles

BCB President Faruque Ahmed has confirmed that Najmul Hossain Shanto will no longer lead the Bangladesh T20I team.

Shanto, who was appointed captain across all three formats in February last year, has decided to step down from the shortest format, citing a desire to focus on ODIs and Tests.

Expectations were high when Shanto took over the leadership, but the past year has been far from ideal.

His tenure as captain was marked by criticism, compounded by a loss of personal form.

Amid mounting pressure, Shanto has communicated his decision to the board, opting to relinquish the T20I captaincy while continuing in the other formats.

Faruque Ahmed explained, "Shanto has said he doesn't want to captain the T20I team anymore. We have accepted his decision. However, if there are no injury issues, he will continue as captain in ODIs and Tests. That's the understanding we've reached."

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is in no rush to appoint a replacement, as no T20I matches are scheduled in the immediate future.

"We have time to consider this, so there's no need to decide on a new captain right now," Faruque added.

Shanto's absence from the recent West Indies tour, due to injury, saw leadership duties split among others. Mehidy Hasan Miraz took charge of the Test and ODI sides, while Litton Das led the T20I team.

Under Litton's captaincy, Bangladesh achieved an impressive whitewash in the three-match T20I series, sparking discussions about his potential as a long-term leader for the format. After the series, Litton publicly stated, "If the BCB wants, I am ready to take on the T20I captaincy."

Litton's success in the West Indies has made his case stronger, and it also appears to have influenced Shanto's decision to step aside.

However, despite the speculation, the BCB is not ready to make any announcements regarding the leadership of the T20I team or any other format at this stage.