Eman 
Behind the Scenes: How BCB Convinced Najmul Hossain Shanto to Reclaim Test Captaincy
ZeeaK 
The mystery surrounding Najmul Hossain Shanto’s unexpected decision to continue as Bangladesh Test captain has been solved. After initially refusing to reconsider the role following his sudden resignation in June, Shanto was ultimately persuaded by former board president and current vice-president, Faruque Ahmed, who offered the batter a powerful lesson in political redemption.
The Burden of Public Perception
Shanto, who statistically holds the best Test win percentage (28.57%) among Bangladesh captains (ahead of Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim), had deep reservations about returning. He was reportedly cautious about public perception, fearing he might appear opportunistic due to his already strained relationship with the media.
His earlier resignation was triggered by the unprofessional manner in which he was stripped of the ODI captaincy before the Sri Lanka tour—a move that left him feeling unsupported by certain board members.
Faruque Ahmed’s Decisive Intervention
With time running out before the two-match Test series against Ireland begins on November 11th, the BCB leadership held an emergency meeting. When it was clear Shanto had declined earlier requests, Faruque Ahmed—who himself had faced a board coup and successfully returned as Vice-President—stepped in.
Faruque’s message was a compelling argument for persistence over bitterness.
“Faruque bhai showed him the bigger picture,” a BCB source confirmed.
“He urged Shanto to stop looking at the past and instead look forward.” Faruque bhai used his own unexpected return to a position of influence to prove that bitter experiences can be overcome for the sake of cricket.
This powerful parallel ultimately persuaded Shanto to reverse his decision and resume his leadership role.
Restructuring for Clarity
The saga has highlighted operational issues within the BCB. Board President Aminul Islam later admitted that the handling of Shanto’s previous captaincy removal was “not ideal” and should have been managed better.
In response, Aminul has reportedly initiated a “shadow committee” to improve accountability and decision-making within BCB operations. This move is expected to tighten oversight on the cricket operations department, aiming to create a more supportive and professionally managed environment for the national team’s leadership going forward.
image credits : cricbuzz
source : issu
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