Captaincy front-runner, Najmul Hossain Shanto urges BCB to offer full freedom

Bangladesh Test and ODI skipper Najmul Hossain said he wanted to quit captaincy as he was feeling pressure of managing the team across the three formats. Najmul, who was appointed Bangladesh captain until the 2025 Champions Trophy, had urged the board to consider giving both authority and priority to their next captain when handing him the long-term role.

The world got a glimpse of Najmul's leadership qualities which were on display when he stood in for Shakib Al Hasan in the World Cup games against India and Australia in 2023, following the disastrous campaign - along with Shakib's unavailability due to an eye problem - the board had decided to appoint Najmul as the country's across-formats skipper.

As a leader Najmul had a mixed journey considering the fact under his leadership Bangladesh earned their maiden Test win against New Zealand at home in November 2023 and in the following month they got their maiden ODI and T20I win against New Zealander in their own backyard, an achievement they failed to accomplish earlier despite touring New Zealand since 2007 to play white-ball cricket.

However, his biggest achievement came in Pakistan when they made history with the clean sweep over the hosts in the two-match Test series in August that is arguably their biggest Test series win so far with a new-look approach. However, it was followed by a disastrous tour of India where they were humiliated in all games of the five-ODI series.

Many felt change in the board had an impact considering the fact their head coach Chandika Hathurusingha came under fire after the arrival of new BCB president Faruque Ahmed as he openly stated that he is not happy with the Sri Lankan and eventually got rid of him.

"I don't think there was lot of difference like the dressing room was fine in Pakistan and it was quite close in India. To some extent and I cannot deny that (due to the change in management) and it can happen but saying that because of it we played poorly (in India) is not an excuse i want to give," he said.

"I think there are lots of mental things involved in the game but the thing is that we were relaxed when we played in Pakistan and India. What I feel is that the dressing room environment was good and it is normal that there would be some changes due to the situation of the country but I don't think it had any bearing on the dressing room. I don't think that way," he said.

"It is important that during a series these kind of things [news of coach getting sacked] shouldn't don't come up... We should not discuss such things and especially the journalist should not ask those questions because at the end of the day whether it's a journalist or a players everyone wants that Bangladesh should do well. When these kind of discussions are happening, as a human being it can have an effect on you and it was difficult like whether the coach will stay or not and even among the player there was an issue of trust like whether this coach will stay after two days or not and we don't know and if you say it taking this into consideration. I would say that was certainly difficult," he said.

Najmul also guided Bangladesh in the second round of T20 World Cup in 2024, for the first time after 2006 but following that tournament Cricbuzz revealed Najmul decided to step down as across-format captain after the South Africa series that was over turned after having a long meeting with BCB president Faruque Ahmed though he eventually left the captaincy in the shortest format.

"I felt that all three formats was difficult for me, to be honest. It's not like I was feeling pressure with batting in T20s because I was scoring reasonably, but my strike-rate was not good. More than that, juggling between formats felt like a bit of pressure in all three formats so I thought I would quit from T20s and give it to someone else because I wanted to still enjoy my batting," said Najmul.

"As far as all three formats were concerned, as a captain I always think that this team is mine and I will take the responsibility. Whether the team is doing good or bad, the responsibility is mine. At one point, my decision-making was lacking - what I wanted I was not getting that fully, but later I heard that I was doing everything so there was some misunderstanding... there was miscommunication at that point and that is the reason I was not enjoying it (captaincy)."

Najmul insisted that the meeting with BCB boss helped give him better perspective and it also played a big role him changing his mind to continue as the captain.

"I had a long discussion with him and he explained it well and I shared my problem and what I want and what I am thinking and we had a good discussion in that regard. The president took everything positively and he explained me well and convinced me. It was a good discussion and I realized a lot of things post that."

It is understood that Faruque promised Najmul all the freedom to run the team as a leader, and according to the southpaw he kept his promise to a large extent.

"So far I would say it is close 80 to 90 percent (as far as keeping the promise is concerned) and to be honest I don't have any restrictions as far I am concerned when it comes to asking for things. I hope it stays this way."

Najmul added that the board is yet to talk with him as far as captaincy is concerned, and added that he would like to see the new leader - whether it is him or not - having more authority and priority.

"The board hasn't spoken with me in this regard but the whole decision lies in their hands. So far I tried to the best of my ability to contribute as a captain. I enjoyed my time as a captain but the whole decision will be taken by cricket board and I will respect that but overall I enjoyed it and I think board will make a decision soon," he said.

"I feel whoever is the captain - whether its me or someone else - he should be given the role long-term because we are already talking about 2027 World Cup and so the captain should be given a long run. I think the practice that is followed by all the teams in the world that a captain dictates what will happen in the field... I think here the captain should be given the highest priority because the cricket board is making someone captain because they have faith in him. I feel if the captain is not performing or contributing to help his team win I don't think the captain would like to stay and he will move away saying someone can be better for this team. So, I I feel the captain should have more authority like with the other big teams of the world which I have seen or you all might be aware of - where the authority and priority of the captain is huge.

"At the end of the day the captain sees in the field what he is struggling with and what he needs and he sees that from close quarters and later coach who is in the dressing room. I hope the board will think over it because our president and cricket operation chairman are coming from the field... So, whoever they feel is capable he should be given this freedom and in that case the captain can take Bangladesh team to a different level," he said.

Whether BCB continues with Najmul remains to be seen in the coming days and along the way the board is also due to decide on their head coach Phil Simmons, who replaced Hathurusingha, as his contract also ended with the Champions Trophy.

The former West Indian opener seemed to have impressed Najmul, and the duo are likely to work together if both their contracts are renewed as captain and coach.

"I am enjoying it (working with Simmons) and he is very calm and quiet and planning wise he is good. What the most important thing is that he gives a clear role to every cricketer," said Najmul. "What I feel is that he sees every cricketer in same light, and he never gives an impression that he is big cricketer or says something like senior cricketer or junior cricketer... He is team man and enjoying working with him," he added.