Nazmul Hossain Shanto has made a dramatic return as Bangladesh’s Test captain, just four months after stepping down from the role. His reinstatement comes ahead of the highly anticipated Test series against Ireland in Sylhet, signalling a fresh chapter for the national side.
Shanto, who resigned following the final Test against Sri Lanka in June, had been under intense scrutiny after losing his ODI leadership role earlier in the year. Since his departure, Bangladesh had not played any Test matches, leaving the captaincy position technically vacant. Now, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reinstated Shanto, trusting him to lead the team once again.
Addressing the media at the pre-match press conference, Shanto reflected on what motivated him to reclaim the captaincy. “For a while, I wasn’t captain, and I was quite relaxed and enjoyed that period,” he admitted. “The communication between me and the board has been excellent. After those discussions, I realised that the Bangladesh team is far bigger than Nazmul Hossain Shanto as an individual. The greater thought was about what the national team truly needs.”
Shanto further highlighted that advice from senior board officials and former players played a crucial role in his decision. “When senior board officials and former cricketers give advice, it’s always for the betterment of the team and for my own growth. I respected those discussions fully. To put it simply, I felt that Bangladesh cricket should come before me as a person. That’s why I made this decision again — to put the team first.”
Earlier this year, Shanto had voiced concerns that having three separate captains across formats might disrupt team cohesion. Currently, Mehidy Hasan Miraz leads the ODI side, while Litton Kumar Das captains the T20I squad. Shanto, however, is confident that the multi-captain arrangement will no longer be a problem. “Yes, earlier I thought it could create problems, and there were reasons for that. But after my discussions with the cricket board, we are very clear about what the potential issues might be and how to resolve them. I’m confident there won’t be any difficulties going forward.”
Communication and collaboration with the other format captains have been key to this reassurance. Shanto explained, “The communication with the board has been really good. They’ve assured me of their full support if any challenges arise. More importantly, my understanding with the other two captains is excellent. We’ve sat together and discussed how we can move the team forward and the areas we need to improve.”
As Bangladesh prepares for the Ireland series, all eyes will be on Shanto to provide the leadership and stability needed to build momentum in the longer format. His return underscores a commitment to team unity and a clear message: individual ambitions must always yield to the greater good of national cricket.