DHAKA, April 23, 2025 (BSS)-Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain took 
responsibility for the side's three-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe in the first 
cricket Test at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium today. 

He admitted that his wretched shots early in the morning of Day 4 hastened 
Bangladesh's collapse that saw Zimbabwe getting just 174-run target for a 
famous victory.

Zimbabwe reached the target, albeit a hiccup to register their first victory 
in this format since 2021.

"I have taken the full responsibility. I shouldn't play this kind of shot 
early in the morning session," he told the reporters after the match in 
Sylhet today.

"The truth is that the whole thing got lost because of me, because of this 
shot."

Shanto top-scored the side with 60 as Bangladesh bundled out for 255 in the 
second innings. Bangladesh relied on him heavily to set a big target for 
Zimbabwe in the fourth innings after he began the Day 4 with the same score.

But his premeditated attempt for a pull shot against short pitched delivery 
that was well outside off brought an end to his innings when Bangladesh 
needed him badly to take the game out of Zimbabwe's reach.

 "We'd the chance to be in pole position to win the game," he said, adding 
that "the wicket of mine in the early morning spoiled the whole thing."

I am taking all the responsibilities since my dismissal came at a time when 
the team needed me badly, an emotion-choked Shanto said.
 
Resuming the day on 194-4, still leading Zimbabwe by 112 runs, Bangladesh 
finally could add just 61 runs to their overnight total after delayed start 
to the game because of rain.

After Shanto's dismissal, Jaker Ali Anik's 58 was crucial in taking the lead 
past 150.

Zimbabwe though had raced to 95, thanks to their openers Brian Bennet and Ben 
Curran's resilience, Mehidy Hasan Miraz made the task difficult for them, 
with his second five-for in the match.

He eventually finished with a match haul of 10-102, his third 10-for in the 
Test cricket, that also made him the third Bangladeshi bowler to reach 200-
wicket-haul in this format after Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam.

"I think we would have been in a better position if we had added 50-60 more 
runs at that time. The bowlers bowled well to bring us back in the game but 
the target was very small," Shanto said.