Sourav Ganguly's assertion that leadership is akin to a potent ailment, one that can either be the making or the undoing of an individual, is particularly resonant in the realm of cricket. His tenure as captain of the Indian cricket team is often hailed as transformative, marked by a bold and assertive approach that heralded a new epoch for the team.
The role of a cricket captain is indeed singular, demanding not only strategic acumen but also the ability to inspire and direct players in real-time. The captain basks in the glory of triumphs and, conversely, shoulders the brunt of defeats. It's a role that can elevate or erode even the most formidable of players.
Currently, Bangladesh’s skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, who captains Bangladesh across all formats, is bearing the weight of this mantle. His recent form in T20 Internationals is a cause for concern, with a mere 189 runs from his last 10 innings, and a strike rate barely surpassing 102.
This is particularly stark given that a majority of these innings were against teams like Zimbabwe and the USA, which are not powerhouses in the cricketing world. Despite Shanto's struggles and the team's lackluster performances, it's not entirely just to attribute his batting woes solely to the pressures of captaincy. His ODI statistics as captain are impressive, with an average of 52 and a strike rate of 92.15, a significant improvement over his non-captaincy figures. In Test cricket, while he has experienced a dip in form, he has also demonstrated his capability with a crucial century against New Zealand.
The question arises: why is Shanto's performance faltering in the lead-up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2024? T20 has historically been his weakest format, with a strike rate that lags behind even by Bangladesh's standards.
As the anchor of the team, his role is to provide stability, but this approach is becoming outdated in the fast-paced T20 format.
Shanto blamed the team's recent batting woes on home pitches ill-suited to the high-scoring affairs typically witnessed in the T20 format elsewhere. Shanto argued that good quality wickets were essential. He said: "Some might scoff and call it an excuse, but the truth of the matter is we play very few matches on a good wicket."
Bangladeshi pitches are notorious for producing low-scoring contests, and only one player in their World Cup squad, top-order batsman Towhid Hridoy, boasts a T20 international strike rate exceeding 130.
Shanto believed that consistent play on good wickets would lead to improvement. He added: "It's tough to effect change within six months. If we get to play on good wickets consistently for a year or two, then these strike rates will undoubtedly improve."
Shanto appeared to be adapting, with improving averages and strike rates in the past two years. However, since assuming captaincy, both his average and strike rate have declined.
This year's T20 World Cup, kicking off on the 1st of June in the United States and West Indies, is likely to be a swansong for some of Bangladesh's most formidable players.
Shanto’s predecessor, Shakib, who still reigns supreme as the top-ranked T20 all-rounder, made a brief appearance in this month's home series against Zimbabwe but hadn't played a 20-over international for nearly a year prior.
Shakib, now 37 years old, was elected to the Bangladeshi parliament in January and seems poised to retire soon, along with fellow all-rounder Mahmudullah Riyad, who is 38.
"Naturally, I want them to play in the World Cup and give it their all," said Shanto. "The decision of when to end their careers rests with them. As captain, I would be eager for them to share their experience with every player in the squad."
With the T20 World Cup imminent, the pressure is mounting. Shanto must maintain a facade of composure, but the reality is that his form is waning, the team's performance is faltering, and the challenges are mounting. The true test of his leadership and resilience lies ahead.
