Under the blazing sun at Net No. 24 of the National Cricket Academy ground in Mirpur, Najmul Hossain Shanto was hard at work, determined to reclaim his place in Bangladesh’s T20 setup. With the Asia Cup approaching, the left-hander engaged in a focused batting session on Wednesday, intent on fine-tuning his big-hitting game.
Facing a series of deliveries from national team thrower Ramzan, Shanto batted against a five-foot slab laid on the pitch, a tool used to simulate short-of-length to good-length deliveries skidding off the surface. The setup allowed him to practise an array of shots, from pull shots to square cuts. As deliveries angled into his body, Shanto pulled powerfully, while full balls were lofted cleanly over mid-on and mid-off.
Coach Sohel Islam watched closely from the adjacent net, observing not just shot execution but the finer details, footwork, balance, and head position. Between overs, Shanto walked over to consult with Sohel, adjusting his technique before returning to the crease with renewed focus.
Though recently dropped from the T20 squad, Shanto has been named in the preliminary squad for the Asia Cup. Whether or not he makes the final squad, his path back to regular T20 cricket remains challenging. The upcoming three-match T20I series against the Netherlands could present an opportunity for him to make his case, while the domestic NCL T20 competition also looms as a proving ground.
The national team’s Asia Cup fitness camp began on Wednesday with running drills and is set to continue for a week. Several players have opted for individual training sessions, and Shanto has taken full advantage by working closely with Sohel.
Shanto last featured in a T20 international during the UAE tour in June. His exclusion from the squad was largely due to poor returns and a playing style deemed unsuited to the T20 format. Since his last T20 fifty in March 2024 against Sri Lanka in Sylhet, he has scored over 40 only twice in 20 innings, without reaching another half-century.
With power-hitting coach Julian Wood scheduled to join the national camp on 10 August for a three-week stint, it is likely that Shanto will seek one-on-one sessions with him as well. His efforts so far suggest a clear intent: to fight his way back into Bangladesh’s T20 side with technical improvements and renewed purpose.