Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto showcased an outstanding performance by scoring his ninth Test century during the opening Test against Pakistan in Mirpur. His commanding presence on the field led many to anticipate a substantial score, possibly even a double century.
However, immediately after reaching his milestone, Shanto was dismissed by Mohammad Abbas for leg-before on Day 1. Despite this, Shanto remains optimistic, expressing his belief that a double hundred is within reach, especially considering his recent impressive form.
Shanto’s previous career-best score of 163 was achieved against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 2021. During an interview before Day 2’s play in Mirpur, he mentioned his expectation of achieving a double hundred soon.
Scoring 101 runs off 130 deliveries, this was Shanto’s first Test century against Pakistan, making him the first Bangladeshi captain to achieve this milestone against them. With four centuries in his last eight innings, Shanto has been in exceptional form recently.
His partnership with Mominul Haque, where they shared a 170-run stand, was described by Haque as one of Shanto’s best innings. Despite his quick dismissal after reaching the century, Shanto remains positive about his performance, acknowledging that he should have capitalized on the opportunity to score higher given the team’s situation.
