Image Source: AP
[Saba Sports News] Najmul Hossain Shanto is set to spearhead Bangladesh’s cricket across all formats, eyeing substantial progress in Test cricket and aspiring to clinch an ODI tournament title during his captaincy.
Stepping in as the full-time captain, starting with the T20I series against Sri Lanka, Shanto expressed his enthusiasm for the unified leadership role, emphasizing the streamlined planning it facilitates. In his inaugural press briefing as captain, he underscored the aim for home dominance in Tests and the ambition to secure a significant ODI tournament win.
Despite a lackluster performance in the recent Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Shanto remains unfazed about his form, focusing instead on his responsibilities as captain and batsman. He highlighted the upcoming T20 series as a crucial phase in their T20 World Cup preparations, emphasizing the importance of team cohesion and mutual trust.
“I know it [being all format captain] is challenging but for planning it will be easier. I have to know about every cricketer though we stay together and playing together but to do the planning it will be easier as I am in charge of three formats. I hope something good will happen,” Najmul shared.
“I don’t think we have improved a lot in Test cricket but we are playing better than before and what I want personally is that when we are playing at home we can win those matches and everyone should build-up [understand] the importance of Test cricket. When we are going abroad we should be able to compete.
“In ODIs we are doing good but as a team we are yet to win a big tournament so want to move forward with the plan on how we can play well in a big tournament and bring a trophy for the country,” he added.
Dismissing any distractions from past on-field controversies with Sri Lanka, Shanto stressed focusing on their game plan and leveraging home advantage to exhibit quality cricket. His vision encapsulates both immediate goals in the T20 format and long-term ambitions in Tests and ODIs, aiming to elevate Bangladesh’s stature on the global cricket stage.
“Every international series brings pressure and it is true for us as well as the opponent and it will remain that way and everyone is enough matured to handle these things. They have a very good team and especially they have all-rounders but still we are playing at home condition and so there will be advantage for us and I hope we can play some good cricket,” he concluded.