Najmul Hossain Shanto on Saturday announced his decision to step down as Test captain, hours after Bangladesh’s humbling 1-0 series defeat to Sri Lanka in Colombo. After a hard-fought draw in the opening Test, Bangladesh had arrived in Colombo eager to secure vital points in the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle. However, their batting lineup crumbled under pressure, culminating in a heavy defeat by an innings and 78 runs.

In the aftermath of this setback, Shanto addressed the media, clarifying that his decision to relinquish the Test captaincy was made purely with the team’s best interests in mind. Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, he stated, “I don't want to continue [as captain] in the Test format anymore. This is not personal. I have taken the decision for the betterment of the team. I think this will help the team. I have been a part of the dressing room for the past few years."I think three captains [for the three international formats] is not sensible."

Shanto went on to express uncertainty about how the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) would respond to his decision but stressed he would respect their judgment. “I don't know what the board will feel about this, and I will support their decision. But this is my personal decision. I think three separate captains will be difficult for the team to deal with. I would want that no one feels this decision is emotional, or that I am disappointed by something. I want to make this clear. This is for the betterment of the team,” he reiterated.