“My player of the match is the Bangladesh team.”
With those gracious words, captain Najmul Hossain Shanto summed up a moment that will live long in the memory of every Bangladesh cricket fan. Leading the Tigers to a historic Test victory over Australia in Darwin, Shanto once again showed why he has become the most successful and inspiring skipper in the country’s Test history.
In the joyful aftermath of this landmark win, Shanto refused to single out individuals. He could easily have highlighted the match-winning contributions of Hasan Mahmud, Tanzid Hasan Tamim or Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Instead, the captain made a point of praising even the quieter efforts.
“Even Shadman’s 20 runs in the first innings were very important,” he noted. That mindset speaks volumes about the character of the man at the helm.
A ship needs a steady captain, and Shanto has steered Bangladesh with remarkable success. In 22 Tests under his leadership, the Tigers have claimed nine victories — a win percentage of 45, the highest of any Bangladesh captain who has led in 15 or more matches. By comparison, Shakib Al Hasan’s corresponding figure stands at 21.05 per cent. The gap tells its own story.
Shanto’s record is filled with landmark moments. He began his captaincy with a memorable home win over New Zealand in Sylhet, guided Bangladesh to whitewashes against Pakistan both home and away, and has now delivered a triumph on Australian soil. He becomes only the 11th captain from the subcontinent to taste Test victory in Australia, joining an elite list that includes Sunil Gavaskar, Wasim Akram and Virat Kohli.
Few achievements feel more special than this latest one in Darwin.True to the old saying that a captain must lead from the front, Shanto produced a vital 84 in the first innings. His partnership with Tanzid Hasan Tamim set the perfect platform and lifted the entire batting unit.
Across winning causes in his captaincy tenure, Shanto has contributed 648 runs in 14 innings, including three centuries and two half-centuries. His bat has consistently backed up his words.
Beyond personal runs, Shanto’s tactical sharpness continues to shine. When Travis Head threatened to build pressure in Australia’s second innings, the captain shrewdly switched Hasan Mahmud’s end so the bowler had the wind at his back. Hasan returned in the 11th over and promptly dismissed Head.
Later, with Steve Smith looking dangerous, Shanto kept faith in Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a long spell and constantly guided him from behind the stumps. The plan worked — Miraz claimed Smith’s wicket.
These are the decisions of a captain who understands both the game and his players. Selfless yet decisive, calm yet ambitious, Shanto is guiding Bangladesh Test cricket into an exciting new era.
After the historic victory, Shanto shared what was perhaps the most important message for the cricket world: “I think we have been able to send a good message to world cricket that we have the ability to play well in any condition.”
With that confident declaration and a selfless leader at the helm, the Tigers’ future looks brighter than ever.
