Sports Desk:

Ace all-rounder Sakib al Hasan’s absence in the forthcoming Sri Lanka one-day international series could be a blessing in disguise for some cricketers, believed Khaled Mahmud, who is the front-runner to become Bangladesh’s interim head coach.

Sakib would not be available for the three-match ODI series as he earlier withdrew his name citing personal reason of performing Hajj.

The 32-year old all-rounder, who mostly played as a no 5 batsman in Bangladesh team, shifted to no 3 during the recently concluded ICC World Cup, where he achieved enormous success.

Sakib scored 606 runs in eight innings at an average of 86.57 to finish third among most run-getters list and also claimed 11 wickets at the same time with a five-wicket haul against Afghanistan.

Batting at no 3, Sakib hit two hundreds and five fifties in his eight innings and solved a long-run problem of the Tigers, who were unable to get a service like this at no 3 position.

‘Obviously, Sakib is Sakib. He is the number one all-rounder in the world. So, when he is not playing it affects our team balance,’ Mahmud, who conducted Bangladesh’s first day’s training camp ahead of Sri Lanka series, told reporters in Mirpur on Wednesday.

‘Sakib was batting in number three position. [In his absence] Some of them will have to take that opportunity and it’s a big opportunity for them to prove themselves as well.

‘Here, many of them can get the opportunity. Sakib may not be in the team for many different reasons but it’s a big opportunity for whoever that will play in his position,’ he added.

Bangladesh picked Anamul Haque as a top-order option while Sabbir Rahman, who played at no 3 for quite a long time previously, could be tested once again for the job.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board also picked left-arm spinner Taijul Islam in Sakib’s place to sort out the left-arm spinner crisis and Mahmud cited that it would be a massive opportunity for Taijul, who returned to ODI colours after a gap of nearly three years.

‘If I talk about Taijul, he doesn’t get many chances to play in the ODI format. He is in great form in India. He has played for Bangladesh A, took 14 wickets. Actually it’s a big opportunity for him,’ he added.

Although Mahmud conducted the first day’s training session, he claimed that he was yet to be informed about his exact role in this team, though it is all but confirmed he would go to Sri Lanka as interim head coach.

‘I haven’t discussed with the board regarding this matter [long term coaching role]. Akram [Khan] bhai told me to look after the team as we don’t have any coach in this moment. But I haven’t talked officially with the board,’ he said.

‘The main thing is that I have been with the Bangladesh team for a long time and one thing I always say is that I work for my country. As my country needs me now, so I am doing it. But I will definitely talk with them regarding this.

‘I don’t know in what position I am at now. It may happen that we can also get a good coach. It will be good for us for sure but for now, I will conduct these training sessions for two-three days.

‘Before going we will see clearly what will happen or whatnot. But for now, I am doing what I am told as I stay with this team, if I wouldn’t have been the coach then I would have been the manager,’ he added.