Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto showcased an impressive performance by scoring his ninth Test century during the first Test against Pakistan in Mirpur on Friday. Despite his strong control over the game, hopes for a monumental score or even a double century were cut short when he was dismissed on the next delivery after reaching the milestone, caught leg-before by Mohammad Abbas on Day 1.
Shanto’s personal best of 163 runs was achieved against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 2021, and with his recent exceptional form, he expressed confidence in achieving a double century soon. Speaking to broadcasters before Day 2’s play in Mirpur, Shanto stated, “It should come, and I am hoping it will come quickly.”
His innings of 101 off 130 balls marked his maiden Test century against Pakistan, solidifying his position as the first Bangladeshi captain to achieve this feat. With an impressive track record of four centuries in his last eight Test innings, Shanto has been in outstanding form.
Regarded as one of the highlights of his career, Shanto’s performance was praised by his teammate Mominul Haque, who described it as the best he has witnessed from Shanto, especially considering their 170-run partnership.
Despite the swift dismissal post his century, Shanto remained positive, acknowledging that while he should have aimed for a higher score given the team’s situation, he is confident in his current form. “I am batting well, and I don’t want to say that I have regrets about the dismissal yesterday. As I said, I am batting well. But it’s true that given the situation the team was in when I was batting, I should have gone on to get a bigger score,” Shanto commented.