In the wake of Najmul Hossain Shanto's announcement to step down from leading the Bangladesh national cricket team across all formats, speculation has arisen regarding Towhid Hridoy as a potential candidate for the T20 captaincy. However, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed Shanto will retain his captaincy for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan.

As the Bangladesh squad prepares to fly to the United Arab Emirates for the three-match ODI series, a few players departed today, with the remainder set to follow tomorrow. Before heading to the airport, Hridoy addressed the media outside the Academy building at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

When questioned about the captaincy, Hridoy stated, “The board will decide on this. I have no say in the matter. I think it’s not just about me or one or two individuals. Those in charge at the BCB know best. Whoever should take the captaincy for the good of the team should get it, and I wish them the best.”

Regarding his readiness for the captaincy role, Hridoy remarked, “I don’t want to talk about this right now. Since we have a game coming up, I’d prefer to focus on that.”

The Bangladesh team is set to make a return to ODI cricket against Afghanistan after an eight-month hiatus. This series marks an important step as the team prepares for the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan next February. Hridoy expressed optimism about their performance in this format, saying, “I hope we can start well. We have always performed well in this format. This time, we certainly want to begin strongly. If we play according to our capabilities, we can achieve good results, Inshallah.”

When asked about the team's recent performances in other formats, Hridoy emphasized the professionalism of each player, stating, “I believe there’s no point in dwelling on the past. It’s better to focus on one match at a time, whether it’s a single game or a larger tournament. Personally, I think what matters is how we start in the coming days, and that day is crucial for us. I want to remain focused on the present.”