'I Take Full Responsibility for the Loss' – Shanto Owns Up to Sylhet Defeat

Najmul Hossain Shanto faced a barrage of questions at the press conference following Bangladesh’s shock Test defeat to Zimbabwe in Sylhet—ranging from his own soft dismissal to the growing pressures of leading a transitioning side. Calm yet candid, Shanto didn’t shy away from owning up to his role in the loss.

"It was my fault that we lost the match, that's the truth," he admitted. "Getting out early in the morning [second ball of the day] changed everything. If Jaker [Ali] and I had added 50 or 60 more runs, the situation could have been different. I don’t want to blame anyone else—I take full responsibility. My shot was poor timing. I’d play that shot again, but probably with better judgment next time."

Shanto fell to a mistimed pull shot off Blessing Muzarabani, offering a leading edge to deep fine leg, sparking a collapse that saw Bangladesh lose three wickets in the opening half-hour of Day 4. Though Jaker continued his good form, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and others struggled against Zimbabwe’s well-executed short-ball tactics.

"We didn’t apply ourselves well enough, especially against Muzarabani," Shanto said. "He used his height effectively, but we should’ve handled him better. He’s their key bowler, and we didn’t plan for him adequately." Muzarabani's 9 for 122 match haul was instrumental in Zimbabwe securing their first overseas Test win since 2021.

Mushfiqur’s Form Raises Concerns

Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim’s poor run continued, with his last 12 innings yielding a highest score of just 37. While he is on the verge of becoming Bangladesh’s first 100-Test player, his place in the side is increasingly under scrutiny.

"He’s a valuable senior player," Shanto said in his defense. "He contributes in the field, in planning, and during training. I’m not focused on his past records or milestones—neither is he, I think. We still believe he can bounce back in the next match."

A Different Kind of Home Pitch

Despite criticism over the Sylhet pitch—quicker and offering more carry than Bangladesh’s usual spin-friendly surfaces—Shanto stood by the decision.

"I don’t believe in tailoring pitches too much just because we lost. Against this opposition, it was right to play on this kind of surface," he reasoned.

Spin Still the Bright Spot

One silver lining for Bangladesh was their spinners. Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed 10 wickets in the match—becoming just the third Bangladeshi to reach 200 Test wickets—while Taijul Islam picked up two in the second innings.

"Miraz and Taijul bowled their hearts out and deserve credit," said Shanto. "But at the end of the day, we just didn’t score enough runs."

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