Online Desk: Former team director Khaled Mahmud Sujon had been away from the national side’s periphery for a while. Often the one to manage the dressing room environment in key tournaments, Mahmud’s decision to keep away from the role of team director since head coach Chandika Hathurusingha’s arrival created room for controversy. Mahmud had not served in that role since the India series in December last year.

“Since this is a home series, everyone will be here, so, I don’t really want to [return to the role],” Mahmud had told the media before the England series this year. However, the recent issues including the Tamim Iqbal retirement saga, have seen the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) feel the urgency for maintaining clear communications between players and the BCB hierarchy.

According to BCB sources, Mahmud will now be “with the team as an observer in the upcoming Asia Cup”. It was also learned that if things go well, he may even return as the team director in the World Cup in India. Mahmud yesterday attended the Tigers’ practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. He was seen overseeing spinners in a net session while also discussing things with the Tigers’ coaching staff. During Hathurusingha’s previous stint, Mahmud worked as the team manager.

Meanwhile, the Asia Cup standbys and the probable players for the New Zealand series in September also came to the ground yesterday after the national team’s practice ended. A group of nine players, including Tamim Iqbal, are being kept prepared under a separate program with the World Cup in mind. The idea, as per the BCB officials, came from the head coach.

Tamim yesterday batted in a training session for the first time in 46 days since that first ODI against Afghanistan. Mahmudullah Riyad skipped the session due to family emergency. Meanwhile, the likes of Soumya Sarkar, Khaled Ahmed, Zakir Hasan, and Mosaddek Hossain also are with the group alongside the Asia Cup standbys Taijul Islam, Saif Hassan, and Tanzim Sakib. The players will continue their training under coach Sohel Islam.