Bangladesh Test cricket captain, Mominul Haque, has realized that he has failed to motivate the team. The left-handed batter met with BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon on Tuesday (May 31) to discuss his role in the Test team. Mominul told the BCB president that he no longer wanted to captain the Test side and instead wanted to concentrate on his batting. However, Nazmul Hasan informed the media before the meeting that he didn’t want Mominul to leave the role. Let’s have a look at the potential replacements for Mominul Haque.
The Potential Candidates to Replace Mominul Haque as Bangladesh Test Cricket Captain
Appointing a captain for Bangladesh’s Test team may not have been as difficult as it is now a few years ago. Senior players are nearing the end of their careers, and a few of them are reluctant to participate in all formats of the game. Picking the right person to fill the shoe in such a scenario is a challenging task. However, the BCB has no option but to choose one, and it must do so with a long-term vision. Let’s see who the finest candidates are for Bangladesh Test Captain.
Shakib Al Hasan
Given the current circumstances, Shakib Al Hasan seems to be an ideal replacement for Mominul Haque. He was the captain of the side before being banned by the ICC in the year 2019. Shakib wasn’t considered for the role after returning to the national side and has been playing as a key member of the squad. Shakib’s record has been the best among the Bangladesh Test captains. As captain, he has the best winning percentage of 21.42 percent.
However, the ace all-rounder has the habit of skipping bilateral series, especially in the last five years. Reportedly, the BCB’s first choice is Shakib Al Hasan, but it depends on his commitment and desire to captain the Test side.
Tamim Iqbal
The BCB may turn their focus on ODI captain Tamim Iqbal if they fail to reach an agreement with Shakib. Right now, Tamim’s focus is to build an ideal squad for the ODI side and make the Bangladesh team a competitive one for the 2023 World Cup. In quest of that, Tamim has been doing well so far. That is why the left-handed batter may not be so keen on taking the role. However, there is no doubt that Tamim would be a perfect fit for the role.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz
Many consider Mehidy Hasan Miraz as the next Test captain of Bangladesh. But at the moment, he may not be an ideal choice given the fact that many senior players are still playing the longer-version format. He has the potential to lead Bangladesh, but at the moment he is suited to the vice-captaincy role.
Litton Das
Appointing Litton Das as Test captain can be a suicidal decision. Litton is in the form of his life at the moment as he has been one of the top run scorers in the Test format since 2021. Giving Litton the leadership role could put him under immense pressure, which could possibly affect his batting performance. However, many want the board to give Litton a chance to lead the Bangladesh Test side. Will the BCB take the risk and hand over the post to Litton? On top of that, Litton has to convince everyone that he is ready to lead the team.
Mushfiqur Rahim
Mushfiqur has led Bangladesh in 34 matches, most by any captain. Under his leadership, Bangladesh have won seven matches, most by any captain. He has the second-best winning ratio, at 20.58 percent. Mr. Dependable made two brilliant hundred in the latest series against Sri Lanka. Everything is perfectly matched for Mushfiqur to take the role. Then why doesn’t BCB consider him a potential replacement in the first place? Mushfiqur was ousted from the post in 2017 because the board did not believe in his development as a leader. However, the BCB may consider him as well if everyone steps back to take the role.
Verdict
The BCB has been put under pressure as a result of Mominul Haque’s decision to resign as Bangladesh Test cricket captain just ahead of the upcoming away series. Because the West Indies tour is rapidly approaching, the BCB must move quickly to appoint a new Test captain. With the future in mind, the BCB will hopefully name a new captain who is fit to lead Bangladesh Test cricket forward.
Source: United News of Bangladesh