Bangladesh’s coach, Chandika Hathurusinghe, has voiced his strong support for Najmul Hossain Shanto to take on the national team, ‘s captaincy permanently.
Following a “successful tour” of New Zealand where Bangladesh clinched their first ODI win against the hosts on New Zealand soil and shared the T20I series, Hathurusinghe commended Shanto’s leadership.
During the tour, Shanto captained in the absence of senior players like Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, and Mahmudullah. Despite relative inexperience, Shanto’s proactive approach and tactical acumen won praise from the coach.
Hathurusinghe highlighted the positive impact of Shanto’s leadership on the team’s attitude and performance, emphasizing clear communication and a fearless mindset among the players.
While Shanto’s batting contributions in the ODIs and T20Is were modest, his composed leadership style stood out. At just 25 years old, he has shown promise as a captain, albeit in a temporary capacity.
Hathurusinghe’s endorsement of Shanto for a long-term captaincy role indicates a potential shift in leadership within the Bangladesh cricket team. The coach’s support underscores Shanto’s growing influence and capability to lead the national side, urging the selectors to seriously consider him for the captaincy moving forward.
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