Shanto and Bangladesh suffering: The disastrous effects of BCB's abrupt ODI captaincy change

Najmul Hossain Shanto for Bangaldesh (Source: AFP)

Najmul Hossain Shanto is one of the most highly rated batters in Bangladesh and is expected to serve Bangladesh cricket for a long time. He was also considered as a player with leadership qualities and was named as all-format captain in 2023.

However, Najmul Hossain Shanto's decision to leave the captaincy of one format led to his ouster as ODI captain, and now he is not leading Bangladesh in any format. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was made ODI captain after Shanto, and it was believed that the batter would enjoy playing without the leadership responsibility. So, has that happened? Has Bangladesh cricket benefited from removing Shanto as ODI captain? Let's unfold the story in this article.

Najmul Hossain Shanto's rise cut short by captaincy change?

Najmul Hossain Shanto's ODI average is currently 31.33 and has a strike-rate of under 80, which shows that he has not lived upto his high billing in Bangladesh cricket. However, if we look at the trajectory of his ODI career, there was a phase where he was extraordinary, and it seemed that he would now go from strength to strength in the 50-over format.

This golden period for Najmul Hossain Shanto was the one where he captained Bangladesh in the ODI format. Shanto made his debut in 2018, but could not make a fifty till 2022 and only started scoring consistently in 2023. It was the same year that he was handed the captaincy, and as Bangladesh captain, he scored his runs at an average of 51.27 - a stark contrast to his career average of 31.33. The strike-rate, too, was better as a leader, and it shows that Najmul Hossain Shanto clearly flourished as a batter during his captaincy period.

The BCB's abrupt decision to remove him as ODI captain has halted his progress big time, though. Since leaving the leadership role, Shanto has scored just 96 runs in eight innings, and the strike rate has fallen below 60. Therefore, just when it looked like Najmul Hossain Shanto was taking his batting prowess to the next level, his downfall under Mehidy's captaincy has been pretty steep.

Najmul Hossain Shanto's ODI numbers after being removed as captain

(Numbers are till the second ODI between Bangladesh and West Indies in 2025)

Overall, Najmul Hossain Shanto has an ODI average of 26.11 when he plays as a pure batter. On the other hand, he was Bangladesh's best ODI batter under his own captaincy. Therefore, BCB's decision to change the ODI captain has clearly not helped one of their most promising batter.

How have Bangladesh performed under new captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz?

If we see Bangladesh's performance under the new captain, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, it has been far from impressive. They were recently whitewashed by Afghanistan in a three-match series, and it is considered one of the lowest phases of Bangladesh cricket. 

Overall, Bangladesh have won just two out of the 12 matches under Mehidy Hasan Miraz's leadership, which includes one against West Indies in the dust bowl at home. Shanto's record as captain was not great either, but his win percentage is still better at 30.76 compared to 16.66 for Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Even Mehidy Hasan Miraz's form has declined in 2025 as he has managed just 174 runs at an average of 19.33 in 10 matches. Thus, two of the most dependable batters in ODIs for Bangladesh have been struggling which has reflected in the overall performance of the team.

Captaincy results: Mehidy Hasan Miraz vs Najmul Hossain Shanto

(Numbers till 1st ODI of West Indies tour of Bangladesh in 2025)

Conclusion

Therefore, looking at the results for Bangladesh since the appointment of Mehidy as ODI captain and Shanto's decline in form, it is clear that the BCB's decision to sack him as captain has backfired.

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