Bangladesh cricket has been hit hard following a heavy innings and 78 runs defeat against Sri Lanka in the Colombo Test, which sealed the two-match series in Sri Lanka’s favor. Adding to the blow, Bangladesh’s Test captain Nazmul Hasan Shanto has stepped down from his role.

Shanto had made history in the first Test at Galle by scoring centuries in both innings, becoming the first Bangladeshi captain to achieve this feat. Despite his stellar performance, the match ended in a draw. However, in the second Test at Colombo, Shanto’s form dipped drastically, scoring just 8 and 19 runs in two innings while the entire Bangladeshi batting lineup struggled, failing to register a single half-century.

In a post-match press conference, Shanto announced his decision to resign as Test captain, stating it was made for the team’s benefit. He expressed concerns about the challenges of having three different captains for the three formats and hoped his decision would help the team’s stability. He clarified that the decision was not emotional or due to personal disappointment.

Earlier in 2025, Shanto had already relinquished the T20 captaincy and was recently removed as ODI captain, with Mehdi Hasan Miraz taking over that role.

During his tenure as Test captain, Shanto led Bangladesh in 14 matches, achieving 4 wins, 9 losses, and 1 draw. His personal batting average as captain (36.24) was notably higher than when not leading the side (29.83). Notably, he led Bangladesh to a historic 2-0 Test series win in Pakistan.