Bangladesh Cricket Squad 2026: Captains & Full Team Lists
Bangladesh now plays under three different captains depending on the format – a split leadership structure the BCB built specifically around the road to the 2027 World Cup. This Bangladesh cricket squad 2026 hub tracks who’s actually leading the side in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, who the key players are, and what’s known so far about the squad for the September series against India – updated as the BCB confirms new squads through the rest of the year.
Quick answer: In the current Bangladesh cricket squad 2026 setup, Najmul Hossain Shanto captains the Test side, while Litton Das captains both the ODI and T20I sides – a role he took over from Mehidy Hasan Miraz on 30 July 2026. Phil Simmons remains head coach across all three formats.
Table of Contents
- Bangladesh’s Captains by Format
- Why Bangladesh Split Its Captaincy
- Bangladesh’s Core Players to Know
- Bangladesh Squad for the India Series (September 2026)
- Bangladesh’s Current ICC Rankings
- FAQs
Bangladesh’s Captains by Format
The clearest way to understand the Bangladesh cricket squad 2026 is by format, since Bangladesh no longer has one single captain across all three:
| Format | Captain | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test | Najmul Hossain Shanto | – | Continues as red-ball leader |
| ODI | Litton Das | 30 July 2026 | Succeeded Mehidy Hasan Miraz |
| T20I | Litton Das | 30 July 2026 | Previously stood in as captain during the 2022 tour of India |
Behind the captains, the coaching staff shaping this Bangladesh cricket squad 2026 is head coach Phil Simmons, batting coach Mohammad Ashraful, pace bowling coach Talha Jubair, and spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed.
Why Bangladesh Split Its Captaincy
The change that most affects the Bangladesh cricket squad 2026 right now is the ODI captaincy switch. The BCB named Litton Das as the new ODI captain on 30 July 2026, replacing Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who had led the ODI side since June 2025 but was moved on after a 2-1 series defeat away to Zimbabwe. Litton now captains Bangladesh in both white-ball formats, while Najmul Hossain Shanto continues purely as Test captain.
BCB President Tamim Iqbal framed the change around building toward the 2027 ODI World Cup, saying the board wanted separate leadership for white-ball and red-ball cricket rather than one captain juggling all three formats. It’s not Litton’s first time with the armband – he led Bangladesh to a memorable 2-1 ODI series win over India in December 2022 while filling in for an injured Tamim Iqbal, a result the board has clearly kept in mind.
Bangladesh’s Core Players to Know
Beyond the captains, a handful of players show up across most versions of the Bangladesh cricket squad 2026, regardless of format or opponent:
- Litton Das – wicketkeeper-batter, ODI and T20I captain, and the senior white-ball presence in the top order.
- Najmul Hossain Shanto – top-order batter and Test captain, the anchor of the red-ball side.
- Mehidy Hasan Miraz – all-rounder and former ODI captain, still central to the side’s balance with bat and off-spin.
- Mustafizur Rahman – left-arm pace, Bangladesh’s most experienced white-ball death bowler.
- Taskin Ahmed – the new-ball spearhead across formats and a key part of the seam attack.
Bangladesh Squad for the India Series (September 2026)
Bangladesh host India for three ODIs (1, 3, and 6 September) and three T20Is (9, 12, and 13 September) – full fixture details are on our Bangladesh Cricket Schedule 2026 page. As of publication, the BCB hadn’t announced the official squad for this Bangladesh cricket squad 2026 assignment, but the white-ball core is expected to be built around new captain Litton Das, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, and Taskin Ahmed among the likely picks. We’ll update this section with the confirmed 15/16-man squad as soon as the BCB releases it.
Bangladesh’s Current ICC Rankings
Rankings context is worth tracking alongside the Bangladesh cricket squad 2026, since the captaincy changes are explicitly aimed at moving these numbers:
| Format | Current Ranking | Best-Ever Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 7th | 6th (23 August 2026) |
| ODI | 8th | 6th (25 May 2017) |
| T20I | 9th | 4th (22 July 2012) |
Bangladesh’s best-ever Test ranking came just days before this page went up, which is a reasonable sign the current Test group under Najmul Hossain Shanto is trending upward even while the white-ball side goes through a leadership change.
FAQs
1. Who is Bangladesh cricket squad 2026 captain?
It depends on the format. Najmul Hossain Shanto captains the Test team, while Litton Das captains both the ODI and T20I sides.
2. When did Litton Das become Bangladesh’s ODI captain?
On 30 July 2026, when the BCB replaced Mehidy Hasan Miraz following a 2-1 ODI series loss in Zimbabwe.
3. Why does Bangladesh have different captains for different formats?
BCB President Tamim Iqbal said the board wanted separate white-ball and red-ball leadership, with Litton Das’s ODI captaincy specifically framed around building toward the 2027 World Cup.
4. Who is in the Bangladesh squad for the India series in September 2026?
The BCB is expected to confirm the squad closer to the series. The core group likely to feature includes Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mustafizur Rahman, and Taskin Ahmed – see our Bangladesh Cricket Schedule 2026 page for the full fixture list.
5. What is Bangladesh’s current ICC Test ranking?
7th, as of the most recent update – Bangladesh’s best-ever Test ranking (6th) came on 23 August 2026.
6. Who is Bangladesh’s head coach?
Phil Simmons, supported by batting coach Mohammad Ashraful and bowling coaches Talha Jubair and Mushtaq Ahmed.
Bookmark this page – we’ll keep this Bangladesh cricket squad 2026 hub updated every time the BCB confirms a new squad or leadership change.