|| CF Correspondent ||

Bangladesh head coach Steve Rhodes said on Thursday that he is looking forward to working with skipper Mahmudullah Riyad in the upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe.

Mahmudullah will be the third cricketer in leadership role under the stewardship of Rhodes, as BCB appointed the all-rounder as the Test captain in absence of Shakib Al Hasan.

“It [working with different captains] tests my management skills and emotional intelligence. I am hoping that I can adjust my style to that type of person. It is challenging but it can be done. I am a professional coach and I am not doing my job properly if I can’t work my characteristics with that person. They are all different. You don’t coach one way. You coach to work with the style of that person,” said the head-coach.

Shakib led the national side in Tests and T20Is while Mashrafe Bin Mortaza skippered the ODI squad but as Shakib is nursing his injured finger, it will Mahmudullah who will make all the calls though according to Rhodes Shakib is by far the best in the business when it comes to leading the side.

“So far, I found Shakib a brilliant captain to work with, the best tactical captain I have worked with. He has some great strengths that I am learning from.

“Mash [Mashrafe] is a wonderful guy to work with. He is different to Shakib, he plays with a lot of passion and pride. Not that Shakib doesn’t but Mash shows it. He expects a lot from the players and gets a lot out of them as well. He is the warrior and leading the team,” said Rhodes.

“Now Riyad is a new captain and my third one. We had a short meeting regarding ideas on selection. Hopefully, the selectors will go with us but it was quick. I have another meeting with Riyad and the analyst,” he added.