Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan batted at number three position in the intra-squad 50-over practice match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday, dropping a big hint that the team management might be considering him for the crucial position in the upcoming tri-series.

Although Shakib scored only 24 in yesterday's game, he may be the man to bat at that position in that series against Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka starting from January 15 in Mirpur.

The No. 3 position has been a perennial problem for the Bangladesh batting order, and the new team management, under the leadership of former national captain Khaled Mahmud, wants to continue Shakib at that position if even he fails to deliver in the first few matches just to give him enough time to build an innings.

In October last year, Shakib had batted at that position in the first ODI against South Africa in Kimberly and scored 29 runs, but the Chandika Hathurusingha-led team management slotted him at number five position in the following two games.