As Bangladesh gears up to face South Africa in the upcoming Test series, significant changes within the team and coaching staff have created a buzz. Phil Simmons, the newly appointed head coach, and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto are both focused on putting the recent upheavals behind them and concentrating on the future.

In a press conference held today, Najmul Hossain Shanto shared his thoughts on the recent changes, which include the sudden removal of former head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and the absence of star player Shakib Al Hasan. Just five days before the Test match, Hathurusingha was relieved of his duties by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), with President Faruk Ahmed confirming the decision on October 15. One of the key reasons for his dismissal was an allegation that he had physically assaulted a player during the 2023 World Cup.

When asked about Hathurusingha’s controversial exit, Shanto responded cautiously, saying, "I honestly don’t know about this. I wasn’t aware of it." He further assured that such incidents are unlikely to happen in the future, stating, "Something like this will never happen again."

Shanto acknowledged that the changes have been abrupt but emphasized that the team is focusing on the task at hand. "I think the team is not distracted by external matters. We’re playing South Africa tomorrow, and we've never beaten them before. It's a home game, and we are a strong team at home. It’s a great opportunity for us to do something special," he said confidently.

Regarding the sudden change in coaching leadership, Shanto is optimistic that the team will adapt quickly to Phil Simmons, who took over just days before the series. Simmons, a former all-rounder himself, has been playing more of an observer role, offering tactical advice to the team. Shanto remarked, "He hasn’t given us a lot of plans yet, as he's just arrived. Since we’ve played many games on this ground, we’re relying on our own experience for now."

While the team is looking forward to working with the new coach, Shanto admitted that there were mixed emotions about Hathurusingha’s departure. "Of course, there were good and bad moments during his time. We did well at times, but also had some poor results. But now we have to look forward," Shanto stated, echoing Simmons' earlier sentiment of focusing on the future.

Another major talking point has been Shakib Al Hasan’s absence from the series. Despite earlier plans for Shakib to play his final Test match in Mirpur and receive a farewell tribute, the BCB decided to prevent him from returning to Bangladesh for the game. Addressing this, Shanto mentioned that a farewell celebration for Shakib is still pending. "There were definitely plans to give him a proper send-off. He’s not just one of the best players in Bangladesh, but one of the best in the world," Shanto said.

As the team prepares for the first Test against South Africa, Bangladesh finds itself navigating new leadership, a new coach, and the absence of one of its greatest players. But Shanto and his team remain focused on making a fresh start and achieving a historic victory against the Proteas.