Fans are still arguing about whether or not Najmul Hossain Shanto should be Bangladesh's captain, but head coach Phil Simmons fully backs the young captain.  Simmons praised Shanto's leadership in an exclusive interview with Ajker Patrika. He said that Shanto commands respect in the dressing room and encourages open conversation with teammates, which is something that not all captains can do.

Shanto became Bangladesh's full-time captain more than a year ago. In earlier games, he had occasionally been used as a stand-in captain.  Since then, a lot of attention has been paid to both his batting and the team's uneven play.  Simmons, though, thinks that leadership is more than just numbers.

“He’s a true leader,” Simmons said. “Players respect him a lot. They can sit with him and speak openly. That’s not always the case with every captain.”

Simmons says that Shanto is unique not only because of how he plans on the pitch, but also because of how he connects with people off of it, making a bond and a space for conversation, which is very important in a team setting.

Simmons's first game as manager of Bangladesh was during their home series against South Africa.  He was first hired as a temporary coach until the Champions Trophy. Now, the BCB has given him full control until the 2027 ODI World Cup.

And he has a clear vision: “I want to build a team-first culture,” Simmons emphasized. “I want players to fight for one another—not for personal stats, but for the badge on their chest.”

He added, “We must believe in our potential to perform in big tournaments. And that belief comes from consistent, purposeful cricket throughout the year—not just during ICC events.”

Asked about the "maroon jacket" tradition (a dressing room award for the Player of the Match introduced during Chandika Hathurusingha’s time), Simmons candidly admitted, “I don’t know much about that.”

Hathurusingha, the Sri Lankan coach, quit early, and Simmons is now in charge instead.  So far in his short time on the job, the former West Indies cricket player has talked a lot about bringing long-term discipline, planning, and teamwork to the team.

Simmons is still hopeful, even though they have had some problems lately, including a disappointing Champions Trophy performance while Shanto was captain.  He agrees with the criticism, but says that trust is what makes a good boss, and Shanto has clearly built trust in the team.

The next task Bangladesh have to do is play a home Test series against Zimbabwe.  The series starts on April 20 in Sylhet, and both Shanto and Simmons will have a chance to make things go their way.