Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto revealed the significant mental toll that off-field controversies and intense public scrutiny have on the national cricket team. He admitted players often 'act' professional while dealing with emotional stress, stating that distractions frequently occur before major tournaments like the World Cup. Shanto expressed distress over a social media post targeting a former captain, acknowledging that while players try to perform, such external issues are difficult to entirely set aside.