Ahead of the World Cup 2023, the former Bangladesh cricketer Khaled Mahmud has been appointed as the team’s director by the national selection committee.
BCB appoints Khaled Muhmad as team director for ODI World Cup 2023
BCB president had made decisions on appointing Khaled Muhmad for the position, but the former skipper and current director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board Khaled Mahmud seems to be averse to returning as team director since he left the post during the home series against India. However, the sources confirmed that he could not reject the proposition made by PCB President Nazmul Hasan for the role.
“Papon (Nazmul) bhai called me this morning and said that he is including my name in the team management list for the World Cup and I could not say no to him,” said Mahmud.
Mahmud was the technical director of the team during 2021, but decided to step down from the post due to his lack of influence in the selection process, which was planned by head coach Russel Domingo and other team management members.
During his early residence in the team, Mahmud was part of the Bangladesh head coach Chandika’s team management where they had a strong relationship. He was included in the selection meeting despite his being appointed as the team director and the team’s poor performance in the ICC World Cup T20I in 2021.
After that, he was part of the team management which was guided by Sridharan Sriram in the short format after BCB’s decision to introduce split coaching, with Sriram looking after the T20Is while Domingo managed the Test and ODI cricketers.
Bangladesh is currently playing in the continental event co-hosted by Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Bangladesh completed its group-stage matches and qualified for the Super Four in Group B.
Bangladesh had a victory against Afghanistan in the fourth match of the Asia Cup. Mohammad Naim and Mehidy Hasan Miraz opened for Bangladesh while Fazalhaq Farooqi opened the bowling attack.
Mohammad Naim scored 28 runs and was sent out by Mujeeb. Mehidy Hasan Miraz was impressive as he scored 112 runs on 119 deliveries and went to the pavilion on retired hurt. After Towhid Hridoy was sent on duck by Gulbadin. Shanto had an impressive innings scoring 104 runs. On the end of their innings, Bangladesh set a huge target of 334 runs against Afghanistan  losing 5 wickets.
With target of 335, Rahmanullah and Ibrahim opened for Afghanistan while Taskin Ahmed opened bowling attack. Rahmanullah was sent out with 1 runs by Shoriful Islam and Ibrahim Zadran had scored 75 runs and was sent out by Hasan Mahmud.
Rahmat Shah scored 33 runs before being sent out by Taskin Ahmed. Hasmatullah had scored 51 runs and other batters struggled against bowlers as they were sent out with low figures.
Taskin Ahmed had scalped four wickets on 8.3 overs giving 44 runs. Shoriful dismissed three batters on 9 overs for 36 runs. By the end, Afghanistan was folded for 245 runs losing all the wickets on 45th over.
Bangladesh will be facing Pakistan in the first match of the Super Four, at Gaddafi Stadium on September 06.
After the Asia Cup, Bangladesh will be playing a three-match ODI Series against New Zealand and will be facing Sri Lanka and England before heading to World Cup 2023 in India.
