Shanto defends Anamul, praises Nayeem after Colombo collapse

In the wake of Bangladesh's crushing innings-and-78-run defeat to Sri Lanka in Colombo today, outgoing Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto avoided pointing fingers at individual players, though scrutiny inevitably turned to underperformers.

Chief among them was opener Anamul Haque Bijoy, whose return to Test cricket after a year proved sobering rather than redemptive.

Recalled on the back of his strong first-class record — over 9,000 runs, 24 centuries, and 49 fifties — Anamul mustered just 23 runs across the two Tests. Struggling against the new ball and appearing uneasy against pace, his technique and confidence came under question. Still, Shanto stood by the selection.

"Bijoy bhai has scored heavily in domestic cricket. We needed someone experienced at the top because our openers haven't been consistent over the past year," Shanto explained. "Yes, it didn't come off this time, but it's unfair to pin the blame on him alone. The whole team fell short."

Indeed, Bangladesh's batting disintegrated in Colombo after a promising start to the series in Galle. Electing to bat first at the SSC — a decision grounded in sound reasoning — they crumbled to 247 despite several batters getting off to starts. Sri Lanka replied with 458, and Bangladesh then capitulated for just 133 on Day Four, handing the hosts a 1–0 series win.

Amid the gloom, there was at least one silver lining — off-spinner Nayeem Hasan. Featuring in only his seventh Test since debuting in 2018, the 23-year-old displayed commendable control, bounce, and sharp turn, particularly in the second innings at the SSC.

"Nayeem's performance gives us something to build on," said Shanto. "He didn't start well, but came back really strongly. That's not easy after such a long break. It was a very encouraging sign."

With regular spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz missing the first Test and Shakib Al Hasan also unavailable, Nayeem made a strong case for more consistent selection. His ability to extract bounce even on slower pitches, coupled with his discipline, made him one of the few positives in an otherwise disappointing series.

However, the defeat cut deeper than the scoreboard might suggest. The momentum from Galle — where Bangladesh batted first and posted an imposing 495 — quickly dissipated under pressure in Colombo.