I like left-hand and right-hand combination for opening: Rhodes

Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes mentioned that he personally likes a left-hand and right-hand combination for the opening partnership.

Bangladesh's search for a stable partner in the opening slot alongside Tamim Iqbal is nothing new and has been going on for a long time. And with the World Cup in sight, left-handed Soumya Sarkar and right-handed Liton Das remain the names as potential partners for Tamim in the big event as both these players are included in the 15-member World Cup squad alongside experienced campaigner Tamim.

Rhodes, however mentioned his favourite type of combination for the opening slot when he talked to the reporters during a press conference in Mirpur on Thursday.

"You've seen recently we have gone left-hand and right-hand combination [for opening] with Liton [Das] and Tamim [Iqbal]. I personally like left-hand and right-hand combination,"

The head coach also mentioned that he had a piece of advice for Soumya before he went on to smash a magnificent double-hundred that helped Abahani Limited beat Sheikh Jamal and retain the Dhaka Premier League (DPL) title last Tuesday.

"I loved what Soumya [Sarkar] has done in the last two games -- getting a hundred and then scoring a double-century. It was interesting as [although] it was not down to me but I did tell him once he got the hundred that 'you are not going to get lots of chances to get two-hundred. If you get to hundred do not throw it away'. He had a lots of time in that first game and ironically he then went and got a two-hundred. But I think that was not down to me but I did mention it to him. So he is in wonderful form,"

Rhodes however did not want to give away as who is going to open with Tamim in the World Cup as he said he had faith on both Liton and Soumya.

"I don't want to divulge who the opening combination will be in the World Cup. I think that's wrong to do that. But all I can say I have faith in both Liton and Soumya."