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On Thursday, January 2, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed that Najmul Hossain Shanto officially stepped down from T20I captaincy. However, the decision was announced this morning, the reports surfaced following Bangladesh’s home series against South Africa. Initially, Shanto has communicated to step down from the position after 2024 T20 World Cup, but the BCB President persuaded him to continue as all-format captain.
Najmul Hossain Shanto steps down as T20I skipper; Litton Das front-runner: Reports
The 26-year-old was then named the skipper of the side for the three-match ODI series against Afghanistan, following which he eventually decided to step down from the leadership role in the T20I format of the game. A top BCB official communicated this development as quoted by Cricbuzz. "Shanto finally told us that he won't lead in the T20Is and we accepted it but as we don't have T20Is at the moment, we have time in hand and so we are not picking a new captain."
"If there is no injury issue Najmul will remain the captain in Test and ODIs and we have discussed it," the BCB official added.
With Najmul Hossain Shanto out of the leadership role in the shortest format of the game, Litton Das is potential successor for T20I captaincy. The Bangladesh batter recently guided the side to 3-0 series win against West Indies and has time and againt expressed willingness to take on the leadership role on long-term basis. Other than him, Mehidy Hasan could also be brought in after previously served as stand-in captain in regular skippers’ absence.
