Hasibul Hossain Shanto: The Pace Star of the 90s Takes on the Role of National Selector

Among the handful of talented cricketers who represented Bangladesh internationally in the 1990s, one of the most notable names is Hasibul Hossain Shanto. His rise to the national team was no accident, and his role, though often quiet, was significant. A key contributor to Bangladesh’s historic 1997 ICC Trophy triumph, Shanto has now joined the national team’s selection panel. After years of serving as a selector at the age-group level, he makes his return to the big stage.

Shanto made his international debut at just 17 years old, beginning his journey in 1995 with an ODI against Sri Lanka. Known as the fastest bowler in the country’s history at the time, he quickly gained attention for his pace and aggressive intent, becoming a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s pace attack.

April 13, 1997, remains one of the most special days in Bangladesh cricket. In the ICC Trophy final in Kuala Lumpur, Bangladesh faced Kenya with a World Cup berth on the line. Chasing a rain-revised target of 166 runs in 25 overs, the match went down to the very last ball. With one run needed, Shanto—primarily a bowler—was on strike alongside Khaled Mashud Pilot. Calmly taking that single, Shanto not only sealed victory for Bangladesh but also changed the course of the country’s cricketing history. The iconic image of him sprinting across the pitch is still etched in memory for countless fans.

That run in ’97 was not just about a win—it was the beginning of an inspiration. Reflecting on that moment, Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Bangladesh’s most successful pacer and former captain, once wrote:
“After seeing Shanto bhai and Pilot bhai’s sprint in ’97, many like me have been running ever since…”

In the 1999 World Cup, Bangladesh secured its maiden World Cup victory against Scotland, where Shanto played his part with two wickets. His feats in domestic cricket were equally impressive. During the 1997–98 first-class season, he claimed 6 wickets for 143 runs in an innings, the best bowling figures of that era. He also etched his name into history as the bowler who delivered the very first ball in Bangladesh’s inaugural Test match.

Across his international career, Shanto played five Test matches, taking six wickets, and picked up 29 wickets in 32 ODIs. However, his career didn’t extend long. With the emergence of Mashrafe Bin Mortaza as the new pace spearhead, Shanto found it difficult to retain his spot. Mashrafe’s pace and sharpness suited the team’s needs, leading Shanto to bid farewell to international cricket in 2004.

Although he retired from international cricket, Shanto continued in domestic cricket until 2007. His 2005–06 first-class season with Sylhet was particularly remarkable, claiming 57 wickets in nine matches. That season alone saw him take seven five-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket match hauls. Still, injuries and frequent overstepping issues eventually forced him to retire from all forms of cricket.

In total, Shanto’s first-class career spanned 52 matches with 168 wickets, while in List A cricket he recorded 109 wickets from 85 matches.

Following his retirement from playing, Shanto transitioned into selection, serving for many years as a selector for Bangladesh’s age-group teams. He worked closely with former national selector Hannan Sarkar, who himself had started out as an age-level selector. When Hannan stepped down earlier this year to focus on coaching, eventually guiding Abahani to a domestic title, Shanto was promoted to fill the vacant spot in the national selection panel.

He also gained experience as the manager of Sylhet Sixers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Among Bangladesh’s cricketing pioneers of the 1990s—such as Akram Khan, Aminul Islam Bulbul, Minhajul Abedin Nannu, Mehrab Hossain Opi, Shahriar Hossain Bidyut, and Al Shahriar Rokon—Hasibul Hossain Shanto’s name is spoken with equal respect.

Not only with the ball but also with the bat in a crucial moment, Shanto has left his mark on the country’s cricketing history. Today, as he steps into the role of a national selector, he carries the responsibility of shaping Bangladesh cricket’s future. For Shanto, the journey from player to selector represents a natural culmination of his cricketing career, and for Bangladesh cricket, it may mark the beginning of a new chapter filled with promise.