Mahmud to step in again?

There has been a major shake-up in Bangladesh's coaching staff following the Tigers' ICC World Cup campaign, where they eventually finished eighth, as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is desperately looking for a change in the dressing room.

The BCB had already announced that they will not continue with head coach Steve Rhodes, whose contract was till the 2020 World T20. In addition, the board will not renew their contract with bowling coach Courtney Walsh either.

There were talks over whether the board would continue with fielding coach Ryan Cook, physio Thihan Chandamohan and spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi with Bangladesh scheduled to take part in a three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka later this month.

Meanwhile news arrived that former Bangladesh captain Khaled Mahmud is going to take up the role of interim coach for Bangladesh for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

Mahmud, who has worked as the Tigers' interim coach before, was previously the team manager in the just concluded World Cup campaign. However, according to Mahmud, he does not want to take on the responsibility of an interim coach repeatedly.

"Even I also have to think about it [becoming the interim coach]. I don't want to take up the job as the interim coach for one series repeatedly. I think it won't be good for me," Mahmud told reporters yesterday.

According to sources, Mahmud has been looking for a long term role for at least one year.

"I am always prepared [to take up coaching] but I don't know yet. Coaching is my profession where the board has given me the responsibility once but I am yet to decide whether I will work as an interim again or not. At the same time it also depends on the board's decision whether they will appoint me or not," he said.

The BCB have already given the go-ahead to Mahmud to take charge during the upcoming series in Sri Lanka, which is set to take place from July 27 to 31.

It was also learnt that Shakib Al Hasan and a few other players have requested a break from the Sri Lanka tour. However, according to chief selector Minhajul Abedin, they are yet to receive any official requests from the players and informed that the selectors are going to form the best possible team for the series.