BCB yet to confirm Sujan's role

Khaled Mahmud, who has several roles within Bangladesh cricket, conducted the first practice camp of Bangladesh National Cricket Team on Wednesday ahead of their forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka for a three-match ODI series, although BCB is yet to confirm his role in the Bangladesh team.

Earlier this week, Akram Khan, chairman of cricket operation of BCB, said they are thinking appointing Mahmud as the interim coach of the national team. But he did not confirm it till the national team has started the camp. 

“I am not sure what my role in the team is,” Khaled Mahmud told the media on Wednesday at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. “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 based on a mutual separation, Khaled Mahmud had said he is up to take the charge if the board wants. At the same time, he expressed his desire to take charge for a long-term period this time. 

“We’re in a crisis to appoint a head coach. But we’re trying to appoint a coach 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 July 15.

During the just-concluded World Cup in England, Khaled Mahmud was the team manager. 

Besides this, he is a director of BCB, vice-chairman of cricket operation committee, chairman of the game development committee, vice-chairman of the high-performance committee. He has also the roles of 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 is appointed for the age-level cricket. However, their term of 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 July 16. Shakib Al Hasan and Liton Das are missing 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 while 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. Taijul Islam is playing for BCB XI in India in Mini Ranji Trophy while Tamim Iqbal was not present for personal reason. 

Bangladesh will fly for Sri Lanka on July 20 after the three-day practice camp. 

The first match of the series will be held on July 26 while the remaining ones will be played on July 28 and 31.