'He ticks all the boxes'

What does the future hold for Najmul Hossain Shanto as a T20 batter? 

That question was put directly to chief selector Habibul Bashar Sumon following the announcement of Bangladesh's T20 squad for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe — a squad notably missing established names like Litton Das and Taskin Ahmed, both unavailable due to franchise commitments in Sri Lanka.

The absence of key personnel is not a new problem for Bangladesh's T20 setup.

Just last month, the side was forced to take the field without Litton against Australia in Chattogram, as the wicketkeeper-batter nursed a calf injury.

That series proved a difficult one for the hosts, whose batting unit struggled to find any consistency, ultimately resulting in a 3-0 series whitewash at the hands of the Aussies.

Against that backdrop, questions have understandably resurfaced about whether the selectors might look to recall a more experienced hand — someone like Shanto — to lend stability to a batting order that has looked shaky in the absence of its senior players.

However, it appears the team management is happy with the current T20 group for at least one more series before considering any major changes to the lineup.

Speaking to Daily Sun, Bashar confirmed that Shanto has not been forgotten, even if he isn't in the current squad.

"Shanto was very much in the discussion," he said, when asked directly about the team's thinking regarding the left-hander.

"But at this moment, the team management wants to take a closer look at the players currently playing in the top-order," he added, suggesting that the selectors are keen to give the current crop of batters a fair opportunity to cement their places.

Shanto's credentials as a franchise leader remain strong.

He led Rajshahi Warriors to the Bangladesh Premier League title last year, contributing 355 runs to that triumph, including a century and a half-century along the way.

It has also emerged that Shanto had been named in Bangladesh's provisional squad for the T20 World Cup, a squad the country ultimately did not take part in due to security concerns, and one that was never officially published.

Looking further ahead, Bashar expressed hope that Shanto would find his way back into the T20 setup well before the next World Cup, to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand in 2028.

"There's nothing new to assess about Shanto before the World Cup. Hopefully, he will be back before the T20 World Cup," Bashar said, signalling confidence in the batter's long-term prospects with the national side.

Bashar went further, outlining exactly what could pave the way for Shanto's return.

"If his form remains good, he will return because he ticks all the boxes. He bats well in the top-order. I think he will be back in the next few days. For now, we want to have a look at a few players first," Bashar explained.

Former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud Sujon also threw his weight behind Shanto the T20 batter, highlighting his big-hitting ability.

“We could have surely picked him. More so when there is no Litton. Selectors must know better than me why they didn't pick him. But I have always thought he is a capable T20 batter and for a fact he is one of the biggest six hitters in Bangladesh,” said Sujon.