Shanto on Bangladesh’s Bold Declaration: ‘Important to Take Brave Decisions’

Najmul Hossain Shanto stood tall not just with the bat, but with a captain’s instinct that defied convention. His decision to declare Bangladesh’s third innings at 240 — setting Pakistan a target of 268 with roughly 70 overs remaining — was met with raised eyebrows, but it ultimately delivered a statement win. In a post-match reflection, Shanto emphasized that taking bold decisions is part of a growing team’s evolution.

Why Declare at 240?

With time still in the game and the pitch offering variable bounce, many expected Bangladesh to bat longer. But Shanto trusted his five-pronged bowling attack.

“I think it is important to take such brave decisions,” Shanto said. “The Test team is slowly growing up, so we could take such a decision. This declaration wasn’t just about one match — I believe it will help us in the future. The reason behind it? Our bowling unit. All five bowlers we played are skilled, and all of them delivered when it mattered.”

Aggressive Mindset from the Start

From the morning of day five, Bangladesh’s message was clear: go for the win. There would be no settling for a draw.

“Our only message since the morning was that we want to win the game — regardless of the situation,” Shanto explained. “Coach Phil Simmons repeated it at tea. We went into the field with that mindset. Even if we couldn’t win, we wanted to make it as hard as possible for Pakistan. We never thought about losing or drawing. We stayed aggressive.”

Strategic Field Placements and Bowling Pressure

With the game on the line, Shanto employed an in-and-out field setup — keeping men back to prevent boundaries while packing the catching positions. On a pitch where defensive batting was difficult, containment created pressure.

“I was constantly thinking how we could cut out their runs,” Shanto said. “This pitch made it tough to defend for long. I believed that if we could build one or two strong bowling spells, we’d create wicket-taking opportunities. And as we’ve seen, it’s always tough for a new batter here.”

Leadership in the Moment

As a regular slip fielder, Shanto is often seen sprinting from the cordon to the bowling mark to exchange words with his pacers — Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain, and Nahid Rana. Before Saud Shakeel’s dismissal, a brief chat with Rana proved pivotal.

But Shanto insists he’s learning when to intervene — and when to step back.

“I used to speak to him more often in the past, but now it’s becoming less,” he said. “Sometimes, I don’t go up at all. I believe it’s important that Nahid bowls from his own understanding. It’ll help him grow. We’re building a good combination — I think I’ve learned when to approach him, and when to let him breathe.”

Reflecting on His Own Batting

Shanto’s 87 in the second innings brought him close to a rare twin-century feat in a Test — a milestone achieved only by legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Ricky Ponting, and David Warner. He doesn’t regret missing the hundred, but feels he could’ve capitalized more after his first-innings ton.

“I think I could have played a bigger knock in the first innings. The wicket was very challenging, especially in the first few hours. After that, the opportunity was there to build a bigger score.”

On the second innings, he was more satisfied: “I was able to bat the way I wanted to. The wicket was tough on days three and four, and I was batting on day five. Overall, I enjoyed both knocks. But if one of the greats was in my place, that 101 might have turned into a double-century.”

Still, his leadership, tactical acumen, and gritty batting underscore a new era for Bangladesh cricket — one where bold decisions aren’t just made, but backed with belief.