Bangladesh Cricket Board director Khaled Mahmud will not be seen as the team director in the upcoming home series against England, scheduled to start on March 1.
Former Bangladesh captain Mahmud while speaking to the media Monday informed that his return to the national dressing room is not necessary, given that the series is being played at home.
Mahmud did not perform his role in the dressing room in the previous home series too, against India in December last year.
“Since this is a home series, everyone will be here so I don't really want to [return to the role]. I don't think I will be taking the role in home series. Let's see after this series ends. Everyone from the board is here and can help since it's a home series. So, don't think I will be returning,” said Mahmud.
Newly appointed head coach Chandika Hathurusingha is scheduled to reach Dhaka in the evening to take over the Bangladesh job for the second time in his coaching career.
Mahmud had worked closely with Hathurusingha in the previous stint as manager and media reports suggested Mahmud is set to return to his role as team director with the return of Hathurusingha.
“Hathurusingha is likely to start work from [Tuesday]. I am very positive about his return to be honest. I have always felt that I have worked with many coaches and have experience of working with him too. From what I know of him, I have very positive feelings. Maybe he will take us further than where we are right now,” said Mahmud.
“The Hathu that was here before didn't have an experienced side but he made that side into a driving force and we started winning games and the dressing room culture changed. There were lots of changes. Hathu will find a more matured team in his hands and he himself is a more matured coach, so in that regard we can hope that we can do something even better under him and Bangladesh will attain more success,” the former all-rounder added.
Hathurusingha has agreed a two-year deal with the BCB.
The former Sri Lankan cricketer replaced Russell Domingo who at the time of his resignation was the Test and one-day international coach.
Return of Hathurusingha also meant the BCB could not reach a common ground with Sridharan Sriram, who worked as a technical consultant last year during the Twenty20 World Cup and had been in talks with the board about continuing in that role.
Hathurusingha was with the Bangladesh team from 2014 to 2017, with the famous ODI-winning streak at home starting under his guidance as the team head coach.
Some of the highlights of Hathurusingha's previous tenure include first ODI series victories over Pakistan, India and South Africa, a maiden quarter-final appearance in a World Cup (2015) and first Test wins against England, Australia and Sri Lanka.