Dhaka: Chief selector Gazi Ashraf Lipu announced the inclusion of Najmul Hossain Shanto in the Bangladesh T20 squad for their upcoming tour of the UAE and Pakistan, citing the player’s experience as a key factor. Shanto’s selection has stirred debate given his recent track record in the T20 format. Despite previously serving as captain across T20, ODI, and Test formats, Shanto stepped down following widespread criticism.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Liton Das, who successfully led Bangladesh to a historic 3-0 series sweep over the West Indies in December last year in Shanto’s absence, has been appointed as the new T20 captain until the 2026 T20 World Cup. Ashraf, while unveiling the squad, emphasized the need for experience within the team, stating that although players like Soumya Sarkar and Liton Das bring considerable experience at the top order, the middle and lower-middle order lack seasoned players, a gap Shanto can potentially fill.
Shanto has featured in 49 T20Is, accumulating 960 runs
with an average of 22.85 and a strike rate of 108.35. Despite these figures, Ashraf acknowledged that Shanto has yet to surpass the 50-match milestone, having participated in 40 or so matches, and emphasized the importance of carrying experienced players within the team.
In the previous Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) season, Shanto faced challenges, playing only five matches for Fortune Barisal before being dropped from the playing XI. Barishal captain Tamim Iqbal attributed Shanto’s exclusion to ‘team combination’ issues, although Shanto’s performance, scoring just 56 runs at an average of 11.20 and a strike rate of 119.14, is believed to have contributed to his removal.
Ashraf reassured that players capable of joining the team, such as Mahidul Islam Ankon or Naim Sheikh, will have opportunities through the standard selection process. “There is no reason to be disappointed. They will get their call very soon because we have many matches scheduled in future,” he stated.
Bangladesh’s itinerary includes a t
wo-match T20 series in the UAE followed by a five-match T20 series in Pakistan.