|| CF Correspondent ||
Bangladesh’s senior batsman Tamim Iqbal and Mominul Haque sought help from their mentor Mohammad Salahuddin as they prepare for the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe, slated from February 22.
Batsman Mohammad Mithun and pace bowler Al Amin Hossain was also part of the three-hour long individual net session in the center wicket of the Sher-e-Bangla on Saturday that was designed to work on cricketers need.
Though the cricketers and the coach was not ready to disclose the proceeding of the practice session but the session can be described one of a kind considering the presence of Mohammad Salahuddin.
In the recent past Salahuddin was not seen working with the national cricketers in the presence of the national head coach after his so-called rift with former with the head coach Chandika Hathurusingha when he arrived to help some of his pupil during the tenure.
Since then though the reputed local coach worked with the national stars during his involvement with them in the domestic league but it was never the case that also involved national coaching staff.
‘’Probably he [Salahuddin] joined them at the insistence of the senior cricketers. We have not started the national camp yet and if the coaching staff is fine with him around during this individual than we don’t have any problem with that,’’ BCB cricket operation chairman Akram Khan said on Saturday when he was asked whether they are planning to include Salahuddin in their set-up.
The intensity of the practice session was quite high more so the way bowling coach Ottis Gibson worked with his charges regarding their batting instead of trying to impart his knowledge for the pace bowlers.
Ahead of the Pakistan tour Domingo clearly stated that he does not want to Gibson to work only as a bowling coach and today the way he interacted with Tamim Iqbal about his batting while acting as a thrower it gave a clear message that in the coming days when batting consultant Neil McKenzie will not be available he might take up his role.
Though the arrival of Salahuddin was something unexpected to the media, it was not the case with the cricketers and Mohammad Mithun explained the reason why.
‘’Tamim bhai, Sourav[ Mominul] everyone works personally with Salahuddin Sir and so Salahuddin Sir knows well about Tamim bhai and Shourav,’’ Mithun told reporters after the practice session.
‘’It been only 6-7 months since Domingo has arrived. And Salahuddin sir has seen them almost for ten years and so they were discussing with him (Salahuddin) what will be right and wrong for them,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, 15-member Zimbabwe Test squad, led by Craig Ervine, has landed at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka pm today.
Bangladesh's will play full series against Zimbabwe consists of a lone Test, three ODIs and two T20Is.
Before the main series, Zimbabwe will play a two-day practice game starting from February 18 at Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan (BKSP). The opponent of this game is yet to be announced by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).
The series will begin with the one-off Test from February 22 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium. After that, both teams will travel to Sylhet to the play the ODI series. The first ODI will take place on March 1, while the other two will be played on March 3, and 6 at Sylhet International Stadium.
First two matches of the ODI series will begin at 1 pm while the last one will begin at 2 pm.
The two-match T20Is series will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on March 9 and 11. Both matches will begin at 6 pm.
Zimbabwe Squad: Brendan Taylor, Chris Mpofu, Regis Chakabva, Timycen Maruma, Craig Ervine (c), Kevin Kasuza, Tinotenda Mutombodzi, Sikandar Raza, Carl Mumba, Donald Tiripano, Prince Masvaure, Victor Nyauchi, Ainsley Ndlovu, Charlton Tshuma, Brian Mudzinganyama.