Najmul Hossain Shanto walked back into the Test captaincy this week and, in the space of 114 deliveries, reminded everyone why the role had been his in the first place. His run-a-ball 100 set up Bangladesh’s innings-and-47-run win over Ireland in Sylhet, but – in his own words – it is “a good start, nothing more than that”.
The opener’s previous stint with the armband ended abruptly in June, a period clouded by uncertainty over separate leaders for the three formats. He felt his views had been brushed aside and stepped down. A quiet chat with Bangladesh Cricket Board president Aminul Islam persuaded him to come back. The result on the field was emphatic; the chatter off it, at least for now, can wait.
Shanto made it clear he separates captaincy from batting. “I have always enjoyed thinking as a batter even when I am a captain. I try to contribute as a batter, but then when I am in the field, I take my responsibility as the captain,” he said. The days immediately after his resignation were rough. “To be very honest, the early days were tough,” he admitted, before adding he eventually relaxed, spent time with family, and used the break to tinker with both technique and mindset. “I did feel relaxed afterwards. I enjoyed the whole time. I spent a lot of time with my family. I also developed my skills both technically and mentally.”
The captain’s hundred was only one part of a productive week. Mahmudul Hasan Joy, recalled after a lean stretch, produced 171 – the second-highest score by a Bangladeshi opener in Tests. Shanto praised the revival. “Joy wasn’t in the team. He has improved himself to come back with a big century in his first innings back in the team. His comeback is a positive thing. I think Joy has improved with the mental side of things. I hope he continues to play with this mentality.”
The other headline belonged to left-arm spinner Hasan Murad, who grabbed six wickets on debut, four of them in the second innings when Ireland were fighting to stay afloat. “Murad was outstanding,” Shanto said. “He has waited for this opportunity for a long time. He has performed in first-class cricket in every season. He has great numbers. His patience is exemplary. It was great to see. I wish he can continue to improve slowly.”
Bangladesh ticked most of the boxes a home Test allows: early wickets with the new ball, a hefty first-innings tally, and control through spin once the pitch tired. Ireland, competitive in patches, never quite matched that consistency and finished 47 runs short of making the hosts bat again.
For Bangladesh, the broader picture still matters. The team used seven openers in eight Tests across 18 months before Joy’s recall, and have tried a similar number of spinners since Taijul Islam became the lone senior option. Murad’s arrival, if sustained, could bring much-needed stability. So could Shanto’s second attempt at leadership, provided it feels less like a burden and more like an extension of his batting – which, given the evidence from Sylhet, is in decent nick.
Shanto, though, was careful not to get carried away. “I think this is just a good start, nothing more than that.” A start, nevertheless, that both he and Bangladesh would happily take.
