Najmul Hossain Shanto Steps Down As Bangladesh Test Captain: Who Could Be The Next Test Skipper?

Najmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as the Bangladesh Test captain following the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which Bangladesh lost 0-1. After the drawn first Test, Bangladesh lost by an innings and 78 runs in the next Test.

According to an earlier report in Cricbuzz, Najmul Hossain Shanto was unhappy with everything that is going around him.

Earlier this year, the 26-year-old had stepped down as the Bangladesh T20I skipper with Litton Das being named the new captain for the shortest format. Najmul Hossain Shanto also recently lost the ODI captaincy with Mehidy Hasan Miraz taking over.

Who can replace Najmul Hossain Shanto as Bangladesh Test captain?

Now that Najmul Hossain Shanto has actually stepped down as Bangladesh Test captain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz is the favourite to take over as their new captain in the longest format.

It has to be noted that Mehidy Hasan Miraz did lead Bangladesh in a two-match Test series against West Indies in the Caribbean last year. The series ended 1-1 with Bangladesh winning the second Test after losing the first Test by 201 runs.

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The all-rounder was also impressive in the two-match Test series against Zimbabwe in April. He scored a century in the second Test and also took 15 wickets across the two Tests.

Who are the other players who could take over as Bangladesh Test captain?

Mominul Haque, who has led Bangladesh in 17 Tests between 2019 and 2022, is another possible candidate for Bangladesh Test captaincy. Mominul, however, has a low win percentage of 20 percent having won just three matches and lost 12.

Two matches under Mominul have ended in draws. Litton Das is also another decent choice to become the next Bangladesh Test captain. He was the Bangladesh captain during a one-off Test against Afghanistan in 2023, which the Tigers won 546 runs.

The first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle saw Najmul Hossain Shanto adjudged the Player of the Match after he scored a century in each of the two innings. But the heavy loss in the second Test means that Bangladesh conceded crucial WTC points in the first series of the new 2025-27 cycle.

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