Najmul Hossain Shanto has won back-to-back Bangladesh Premier League titles, but the satisfaction, by his own admission, has been markedly different.
Last season, Shanto lifted the trophy with Fortune Barishal largely as a squad player. This time, he captained Rajshahi Warriors to the title, leading from the front and shaping the campaign with both bat and authority.
The contrast between the two triumphs is stark. In the previous BPL, Shanto featured in only five matches, spending much of the tournament on the sidelines for team balance reasons. He even filled in as a wicketkeeper on occasions and was subjected to boos from sections of the crowd, including during pre-match warm-ups and mid-innings running drills.
This season, by contrast, he was central to Rajshahi’s success. Speaking after the final, the left-hander made it clear which title meant more to him. “Last year felt good as well,” Shanto said. “But it feels much better when you can contribute. I think this year I managed to do that as a player and as a captain. That gives an extra level of satisfaction. Winning the BPL for the first time as a captain is very special.”
Shanto finished the tournament as the fourth-highest run-scorer, amassing 355 runs in 13 matches, including a century. It was a sharp turnaround from the previous season and a reminder of his value when entrusted with responsibility.
Beyond the numbers, there was also an emotional layer to the achievement. This was the first time Shanto had represented a franchise carrying the Rajshahi name, his home division, adding further weight to the victory.
“There is more emotion involved here,” he said. “I never had the chance to play for a Rajshahi team before. To play as captain and win the title brings an extra kind of happiness. There was a big responsibility on me. From the heart, I tried to give the people of Rajshahi a beautiful gift.”
