Shanto shouldn't be trolled for not scoring in one or two match: Bashar

Dhaka, 22 June - Former Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar Sumon today insisted Najmul Hossain Shanto's shouldn't be criticized excessively for not scoring in one or two matches as he has the enormous talent to give the side useful service.

"But the excessive social media trolling and outside criticism hampered his batting significantly, something which I felt," Bashar said here today.

Shanto, the Test captain of Bangladesh, scored twin centuries in Galle Test against Sri Lanka, which fizzled out to a draw yesterday.

His 148 and 125 not out in two innings of the Galle Test was his second such instance after his 146 and 124 against Afghanistan in 2023 and made him the 15th batter to seal the milestone more than once. He is also the 16th captain to achieve the feat.

"I hope that if he doesn't score runs in the next couple of matches, there will be no criticism. Shanto is one of the best batsmen in our team in all formats," Bashar said. "I am not surprised to see him batting like this, this is actually his true form. He has the ability to bat like this."

Shanto has been the regular target of some social media users when he fails 
to make his bat talk. Even his family was dragged into the matter. 

Bashar, one of the best captains of Bangladesh, said that he has seen the pressure of criticism on Shanto's batting for so long. 

"We sometimes put him under pressure. Continuous trolling or criticism puts pressure on players," Bashar said, adding that it is impossible to avoid even a mentally stronger personality like Shanto. 

"Even if you talk about avoiding it, it is not easy. We know how mentally strong Shant is. But I think this has hampered his batting of late. I feel so after watching his batting closely. But the good news is that he has come back well.'

Allrounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz who has been the Bangladesh's most successful batter and bowler in the last one year didn't play the Galle Test due to his fever.
 
Bashar said Miraz's comeback in the second and final Test, beginning from June 25 in Colombo would give Bangladesh a proper balance.

"If Miraz returns, we can play with five bowlers. In that case, we will have to reduce one batter," he said. "But that will not be a problem because Miraz is also a proper batter, something which his stat proved."BSS