Shanto Hints at Changes in Bangladesh’s Batting Approach After Champions Trophy
“I hope we make some changes in our batting unit and start thinking differently after this tournament,” said Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto.
It’s the same old story for Bangladesh—satisfaction with the bowling, frustration with the batting. Shanto echoed similar sentiments but also sparked curiosity by hinting at possible changes in the team’s batting approach after the Champions Trophy.
Bangladesh has been knocked out of the tournament after two consecutive losses, both due to underwhelming batting performances. Against India in Dubai, they managed 228 runs and lost by six wickets. Facing New Zealand in Rawalpindi, they posted 236 but suffered another defeat, this time by five wickets.
While the margin of defeat in both matches might not seem massive, the real picture goes beyond just the numbers. Bangladesh’s bowlers fought hard with limited runs on the board and even put pressure on the opposition at times. Had the fielders taken their chances—catching crucial opportunities or executing run-outs—the matches could have been more competitive.
Captain Praises Bowlers, Calls for Batting Overhaul
With Bangladesh officially out of the tournament, a disappointed Shanto acknowledged the bowlers’ efforts while openly criticizing the team’s batting and fielding. He also spoke about the need for a shift in approach.
“As a captain, it’s very frustrating to see the team failing again. If you look at our bowling unit, we’ve been performing well for the past few years. We have some quality fast bowlers and spinners. We always wanted a wrist spinner, and now we have one.”
“I think we need to improve a lot in our batting and fielding as a team. I’ve talked about batting improvements many times, but we keep making the same mistakes. We really need to focus on how to improve. I hope that after this tournament, we will make some changes in our batting unit, think differently, and try to get better.”
Naturally, these comments raise questions—will Bangladesh move forward without veterans like Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah? Will there be recalls for certain players, or will new faces be introduced?
Tactical Shift, Not Player Replacements
However, when asked for clarification, Shanto made it clear that he was referring to a change in batting strategy, not in personnel.
“By changes, I don’t mean replacing players. It’s about adjusting our mindset—figuring out how we can contribute more to the team and take responsibility in our batting. This is something we have to do ourselves. Constantly changing players—one today, another tomorrow—will only make things harder for the batsmen.”
“We have to work with the resources we already have. These players need opportunities to bring about this change and take responsibility. I think we’ve been taking things a bit lightly in this area. We need to step up and be more accountable.”
If these changes are truly on the way, the upcoming tour of Pakistan in May—Bangladesh’s next limited-overs assignment—will be the first real test of this new approach.
