Najmul Replace Shakib As Across Format Skipper – BCB 

Bangladesh Cricket Board said on Monday that they have replaced Shakib al Hasan with Najmul Hossain as cross format skipper for next one year.    

 “We have decided to appoint Najmul Hossain Shanto for the cross-over format. He will serve the national team as skipper this year. I have talked to Shakib. His eye problem is still causing problems. There is some uncertainty regarding his participation in Sri Lanka. The World Cup is very near. So we didn’t take any chances,” BCB president Nazmul told reporters at the BCB headquarters on Monday.

“We are not sure about Shakib’s availability and that is why we picked Shanto (Najmul) for all three formats,” he added.

BCB boss informed that they have decided to go Najmul as they are not sure about Shakib al Hasan’s availability due to his eye problem.

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha earlier said that he feels it high time to give long-term captaincy to Najmul after being impressed by him in the recent past when he led the side in absence of Shakib while the former national captain in recent past insisted that he is not sure about his future as captain. 

Hathurusingha said that stand-in skipper Najmul Hossain had given enough evidence to take up the leadership role on a long-term basis. Under his captaincy, Bangladesh earned their maiden ODI and T20I wins against New Zealand away from home. Before arriving for this white-ball tour, Shanto also displayed Test captaincy prowess as his team beat New Zealand back home in Sylhet.

With Shakib Al Hasan’s long-term availability in question, BCB are likely to look for a permanent option at the helm. In that regard, Shanto appears to have seized the opportunity that has come his way.