Image Credit- AFP
In the weeks following their disappointing 2023 World
Cup campaign, Bangladesh cricket could undergo an all-around makeover, with
Shakib Al Hasan likely to make a decision on his future and a new captain for
the forthcoming Test series against New Zealand among the changes. The BCB
isn’t accepting Shakib’s announcement, made in an interview prior to the World
Cup, that he will step down as ODI captain following the tournament.
“He had not informed us about leaving captaincy
before the World Cup. We believed that [the interview] was not an official
thing,” Jalal Yunus, the BCB’s cricket operations chairman, said.
Shakib, who leads Bangladesh in Test cricket as well,
broke his finger during batting against Sri Lanka, meaning he will miss the
remainder of the World Cup. He will also miss the two home Test matches against
New Zealand due to that ailment.
Although the series begins Bangladesh’s World Test
Championship cycle for 2023–25, the BCB is eager for a full-strength squad for
those Tests and is not inclined to name Litton Das captain. The board actually
looks dissatisfied with Litton for taking two breaks during the World Cup.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz could
then be considered for captaincy. In addition, Shanto will fill in as captain
for Bangladesh in their World Cup encounter against Australia on November 11
after Shakib was forced to leave the team’s match due to a quad injury.
The BCB and Shakib will shortly talk about his future
in both Tests and ODIs. Apart from his remarks on the ODI captaincy, he had
even disclosed his retirement plans prior to the World Cup, stating that he
would make his announcement “after the 2025 Champions Trophy”.
Thus, with Shakib and Tamim potentially absent against
New Zealand, it would leave Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Haque as the only
experienced batters, despite the BCB wanting to play a full-strength squad. The
bowling unit’s availability will largely depend on their fitness updates after
the World Cup.