Professionalism in the backdrop of distress

"Shakib! Shakib," Tamim Iqbal called out. "Who? Me?" Shakib Al Hasan gestured after someone brought it to his attention. Soon the ace all-rounder converged on the centre wickets to speak to Tamim and coach Chandika Hathurusingha.

The relationship between Shakib and Tamim had all of a sudden turned into the focal point of Bangladesh cricket, leaving the England series in the background. But with the series already lost 2-0, the attention had been drawn to many issues that still need to be sorted out during a World Cup year. Thus, dressing room environment and the negativity around it will have to give way to finding solutions for the third and final ODI. Just as Bangladesh will have to show professionalism, the two seniors appear to be sorting out how to work as professionals despite differences. As the series moved to Chattogram, that professionalism appears to be settling in even as there is not much to play for result-wise.

Shakib had seen the wickets before anyone from the Bangladesh team management yesterday morning, a day ahead of the third ODI today. The coach and captain wanted his opinion on the wicket and perhaps what the makeup of the team would be in the final ODI.

It was an optional training session for the Tigers with the likes of Taskin Ahmed, Liton Das and Afif Hossain not attending the session. Shakib had seen the wicket before bowling at the nets and joined Tamim for a little chat. He then moved for quite a long discussion with selectors Minhajul Abedin and Habibul Bashar before Tamim and Chandika came to look at the wickets and asked Shakib to join in.

Despite what has come out onto the open regarding the Shakib-Tamim saga, the pair has managed to put the team's need first and communicated. That there had been something was apparent even during the first session since Shakib was back from USA.

The skipper also has to sort out his own game, having not managed to make good on starts in both innings against England so far.

Shakib was later seen walking around with a football, searching for players to form two teams. He gave a thumbs up after Mushfiqur Rahim entertained the idea of teaming up for a game of football. Soon the pair was celebrating, having left Mahmudullah Riyad, who was trying to save a goal, on the turf.

With many things to rectify, the team sent in spin coach Rangana Herath at the press conference yesterday. He argued about the importance of the game, behind just getting a result to avoid a series whitewash.

"There's a lot to come after these two matches against England. We play against Ireland, Afghanistan, leading up to the World Cup. This game is very important for us. We need to do our best in this game, leading up to the World Cup's preparation. We need to come back strongly to do well in the last ODI against England," Herath reminded at the press conference.

He put forward the notion that the team combination may have three spinners or three pacers while also alluding to the fact that spinners get more purchase in Mirpur. However, given the 'dry' nature of the wicket that Herath also pointed out, spin, rather than pace, could find more help.

The only real glimpse of seriousness Tigers put forward in the session was in planning around the wicket to be used. As Herath had said, it is an important game, thus professionalism for Tamim, Shakib and the rest will have to set in to avoid the world champions completing a whitewash.