Shanto Takes Full Responsibility as Bangladesh Succumbs to Zimbabwe in Test Defeat

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has taken full responsibility for his team’s disappointing loss to Zimbabwe in the first Test at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

At the end of Day 3, Shanto was unbeaten on 60 runs, keeping Bangladesh’s hopes alive. However, on the very second ball of Day 4, he fell victim to a short delivery from Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani, playing a rash shot and handing a simple catch to the fielders. The soft dismissal proved costly for Bangladesh.

Following the loss, Shanto did not shy away from accepting blame. "If you ask me about today’s match, I feel I single-handedly lost it," said the skipper in the post-match interview. "That morning dismissal ruined everything. Had we put on a 50-60 run partnership, we could’ve reached 220 or more, and been in a better position. I take full responsibility. I got out at a very bad time."

Shanto’s presence at the crease had kept Bangladesh in the contest, but once he departed, the batting order collapsed. Bangladesh could only add 61 runs in the morning session of Day 4 while losing six wickets, eventually folding for 255 runs.

While Shanto owned up to his mistake, he expressed that the defeat did not leave him overwhelmingly disheartened. "I won’t say much. Losing always feels bad, no matter the match. But we didn’t play to our potential. I genuinely believe we’re a better team than this. It feels bad, but not unusually so. Just the usual sting of a loss," he remarked.

Zimbabwe capitalized on Bangladesh’s collapse and chased down the 174-run target in 50.1 overs on the fourth day, sealing a three-wicket win and taking a 1-0 lead in the series.