The new ICC World Test Championship cycle is officially underway, and it’s Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto who has etched his name into the early history books.
On Day 1 of the opening Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, Shanto became the first centurion of the new WTC cycle with a composed and patient knock to lead his team’s resurgence after early blows. It was a resolute display from the left-hander, who weathered early pressure after Bangladesh lost three wickets for just 45.
The captain then took charge and stitched together a massive stand with veteran Mushfiqur Rahim, who scored a century of his own. The pair’s fourth-wicket stand yielded more than 200 runs, frustrating the Sri Lankan bowling attack on a surface offering little margin for error.
Bangladesh, after electing to bat, made a shaky start. Anamul Haque fell for a duck, while Shadman Islam (14) and Mominul Haque (29) couldn’t convert their starts. But from the moment Najmul Hossain Shanto settled in, he looked assured, displaying crisp footwork against spin and sharp shot selection throughout his knock.
Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim are both unbeaten (at the time of writing) with their team at 286/3 and looking to get Bangladesh off to a winning start.
The new World Test Championship cycle has plenty to overcome to match the excitement of the last tournament, but if this first game is any indication, it promises even more drama and thrill than ever before.
