Najmul Hossain Shanto has been named Bangladesh Test captain for the two-match home series against New Zealand starting later this month. Shanto was promoted after Litton Das, captain of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Dhaka in June, was granted paternity leave for a month. Shakib Al Hasan, whom Litton had replaced at the helm, is out with a broken finger.
“Litton has been granted a month’s leave, he is not available for the two Tests. He wants to spend time with his newborn baby,” said Jalal Yunus, chairman of BCB’s cricket operations committee. “We had asked him to play at least the second Test match, but he insisted on [being away for] the entire series. That’s why we granted him permission. As a result, Najmul Hossain Shanto will captain the team in these two Tests.”