(Image source: X.com/@BCBtigers)
[Saba Sports News] Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha was all praise for stand-in captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, who led his team to a Test match win versus New Zealand in Sylhet.
Starting off the series with a victory, Bangladesh, led by Shanto, who is captaining the side in absence of Shakib Al Hasan, recovered well from the World Cup debacle.
Shanto scored a century in the second innings, helping Bangladesh set a target of 332 runs for New Zealand. New Zealand skittled at a score of 181 with Taijul Islam taking a six-wicket haul as Bangladesh recorded a 150-run win.
Highly impressed with Shanto’s leadership, Hathurusingha lauded the 25-year-old for how he forged a memorable triumph. While hailing his captaincy, Hathurusingha also praised the southpaw for the way he led from the front with his batting.
“His captaincy was excellent because tactically he was really on the mark. He was a step ahead of the game most of the time. He had set very impressive field placing as well, sometimes unorthodox and very effective” Hathurusingha said as quoted by Daily Star.
While Shakib is the full-time skipper, Hathurusingha stated that it’s down to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to decide about the leadership change when the right time comes.
“His leadership was also excellent. He led from the front with his performance — batting as well as commanding respect and demanding the standard (from players). That’s a good thing. I think he has a good future ahead. The board has to make a decision [regarding] his captaincy or leadership (for the long term) and the board will take a decision when the time comes,” he added.
Leading the series 1-0, Bangladesh will next face New Zealand in the second Test match, scheduled to start on December 6 in Dhaka.