Bangladesh’s Nazmul Hossain Shanto has stepped down as Test captain following the team's heavy defeat by an innings and 78 runs in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo today (June 28).

Shanto, 25, confirmed the decision at a post-match press conference on Saturday, saying he had already informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) of his resignation. 

His departure comes amid growing uncertainty over his leadership role, particularly after he was stripped of the ODI captaincy earlier this year.

Appointed captain across all three formats following the 2023 ODI World Cup, Shanto’s leadership tenure has been short-lived. 

He previously gave up the T20 captaincy and was replaced by Mehidy Hasan Miraz as ODI captain ahead of the home series against Sri Lanka.

Sources close to the board had speculated for weeks that Shanto would also relinquish the Test role, especially after the changes in white-ball leadership.

In Saturday's press conference, the left-handed batter said stepping down was a personal decision, though he had considered it previously. 

“I had thought about it earlier too, but stayed on at the request of the then BCB president,” he said, referring to Nazmul Hassan Papon.

Despite the leadership changes, Shanto's individual performance as Test captain showed improvement. His Test batting average rose from 32 to 36 after taking over the role. 

He scored three of his seven career centuries and added two fifties during his tenure as skipper.

The BCB has yet to announce a replacement for the Test captaincy.

SMS/