Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) Cricket Operations Chairman Najmul Abedin Fahim said on Saturday that he was surprised by Najmul Hossain Shanto’s decision to step down as Test captain but respected the batter’s call, describing him as a “good leader” who can still contribute to the team even without the captaincy.
“It would have been good if this hadn’t happened—not just because he was a successful captain, but because I have seen his leadership qualities from very close,” Fahim told reporters after Shanto announced his resignation in Colombo following Bangladesh’s heavy defeat against Sri Lanka. “He has done well as a captain and he is a good leader. If he had continued, it would have been very good for us. But since he has made this decision, I respect that.”
Fahim also admitted that while discussions had taken place, he did not expect Shanto to announce it immediately.
“Yes, we had discussed this, but I was thinking that if it did happen, it would happen later. I didn’t expect it would be today. But since he wanted to announce it today, I respect that,” Fahim said.
The BCB recently appointed Mehidy Hasan Miraz as ODI captain, and Fahim explained that the board had communicated Shanto’s role clearly at the time, expecting him to continue leading the Test side.
“We didn’t think about alternatives for the Test captaincy because my idea was that Shanto would continue. I don’t want to look back at his record, but I know for a fact that he is a good leader, and I was hoping he would continue. Now we have to think again,” Fahim said
“He had his reasons for it. He didn’t just lead the Test side, that is why he took this decision. He tried to speak to us about it,” he added.
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK