Interim coach Khaled Mahmud ‘not sure’ about his role
Khaled Mahmud, who has several roles within Bangladesh cricket, conducted the first practice camp of Bangladesh men’s national cricket team on Wednesday ahead of their tour to Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series, although BCB is yet to confirm his role in the team, reports UNB.
Earlier this week, Akram Khan, chairman of cricket operations of BCB, said they were considering appointing Mahmud as an interim coach of the national team.
But he did not confirm it until the national team has started the camp, the news agency said.
"I am not sure what my role in the team is," Khaled Mahmud told the media at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Wednesday. "Since we have no head coach at the moment, Akram bhai told me to take over. But I had no official discussion with the board."
Right after Steve Rhodes' stint with Bangladesh cricket ended, Khaled Mahmud had said he is ready to take the charge if the board wants. At the same time, he expressed his desire to take charge for a long-term this time around.
"We're in a crisis to appoint a head coach. But we're trying to fix the problem as quickly as possible. Sujon (Khaled Mahmud) might take the role on an interim basis. We'll confirm within two-three days whether he will take the charge," Akram said on 15 July.
During the just-concluded World Cup in England, Khaled Mahmud had worked as the team manager.
He is also a director of BCB, vice-chairman of cricket operations committee, chairman of the game development committee, vice-chairman of the high-performance committee.
Ubiquitous Khaled Mahmud also works as the head coach of Dhaka League champions Abahani and BPL franchise Dhaka Dynamites.
Though Khaled Mahmud's role is still undefined, the national team got their pace-bowling coach, batting coach and fielding coach for the upcoming series respectively in Champaka Ramanayeke, Wasim Jaffer and Sohel Islam.
The former duo has been appointed for the age-level cricket. However, their term at office is not clear. All of them were present in the first-day practice.
BCB has announced 14-member squad for Sri Lanka tour on 16 July. Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das will miss the series due to personal reasons while Mashrafe Bin Mortaza will lead the team.
Mahmudullah Riyad and Mohammad Saifuddin made to the squad despite some niggles.
In the first day of the practice camp, seven players -- Mashrafe, Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad, Mosaddek Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Mustafizur Rahman -- were present.
Mohammad Mithun, Mohammad Saifuddin, Sabbir Rahman, Anamul Haque Bijoy and Rubel Hossain are with Bangladesh A to play the first ODI against touring Afghanistan A.
Another member of the squad Taijul Islam is playing for BCB XI in India in Mini Ranji Trophy while Tamim Iqbal was not present for personal reasons.
Bangladesh will fly for Sri Lanka on 20 July after the three-day practice camp.
The first match of the series will be held on 26 July while the remaining two matches will be played on 28 and 31 July.