Najmul Hossain Shanto has made a dramatic U-turn, returning as Bangladesh’s Test captain just months after stepping down from the role. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that the 27-year-old will continue to lead the side through the ongoing 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship cycle, marking a major vote of confidence in his leadership.
In a statement released by the BCB, Shanto said, “Captaining my country in Test cricket is the greatest honour of my life. I am grateful for the faith the board has shown in me, and I will give my best to lead the team with pride and responsibility.”
Shanto, who first took charge in 2023, had guided Bangladesh to four Test wins in 14 matches, including a historic 2-0 series triumph in Pakistan last year – their first-ever Test series victory on Pakistani soil.
Despite some promising results, Bangladesh’s inconsistent performances in the longer format and a series loss to Sri Lanka in June 2025 led Shanto to announce his resignation from the captaincy, citing concerns about having multiple captains across formats.
However, following discussions with senior board officials, Shanto was persuaded to change his mind. Reports suggest that a four-member committee within the BCB, led by President Nazmul Hassan, played a key role in convincing him to stay.
