Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has been appointed as the new Test captain of the Bangladesh cricket team.
Shakib Al Hasan Named as Bangladesh Test Captain
The appointment of Shakib Al Hasan comes into effect after out-of-form Mominul Haque decides to step down as Bangladesh Test captain.
The BCB said Shakib will lead the team in their 2 test series in the West Indies this month. Wicket-keeper batsman Litton Das has been named as his deputy.
During the Bangladesh Tour of West Indies 2022, both teams will play a total of 2 match Test series, 3 match T20I series along with 3 match ODI series.
The two-match Test series is also part of the ongoing World Test Championship (2021-2023).
BCB president Nazmul Hasan confirmed the news and states that the board has listed three names on their list. He also stated that they would have opted for the other two if Shakib decides not to pick the captaincy role.
“We have a series against Zimbabwe after the West Indies. He may not be there. Other than this, he gave us a commitment he would play in all formats in future series, but it’s difficult to say for how long Shakib will be leading the side,” he said.
“We had three names in our hand. If Shakib was not interested we would chosen the duo from the three available options.”
Since making his Test debut on 6 May 2007, Shakib Al Hasan has scored 4113 runs which include 27 half-centuries, 5 centuries, and 1 double hundred.
In the bowling department, Shakib Al Hasan has picked 224 wickets at an economy of 2.95 which includes 19 five-wicket hauls and 2 ten-wicket hauls.
Mominul Haque Steps Down as Bangladesh Test Captain
Mominul who led the side since 2019 October, has managed to score only 162 runs in 6 matches he featured this year.
“I felt that captaining a side is tough when I am not scoring and the team is not winning. I think it is best to quit the captaincy,” Mominul told reporters after meeting BCB President Nazmul Hassan on Tuesday.
Mominul also added “I feel I should focus on my batting. It wasn’t a hard decision. A captain has to contribute, otherwise, it brings a lot of pressure. The board president told me to stay on but I don’t want to be the captain.”
During his captaincy stints, Shakib Al Hasan has led Bangladesh in 14 test matches, whereas the team has only 3 victories with 11 defeats.
