Shakib becoming Test captain will be very helpful for the team: Khaled Mahmud

Khaled Mahmud, technical director of the Bangladesh Cricket Team, believes Shakib Al Hasan becoming Test captain will help Bangladesh develop in the longest format, and has little doubt that the veteran is extremely keen to play five-day cricket regularly. Bangladesh are without a Test captain currently, after Momimul Haque stepped down on Monday (May 31) on the back of the Tigers’ 1-0 series defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka. 

Shakib has prior experience leading in the longest format, having captained the Tigers 14 times, and Mahmud believes appointing the 35-year-old as Test skipper will be a boon for the side.

''I think whoever decides to lead he should be given (captaincy) for two years because giving time to the captain is very important. I think naturally it (if Shakib takes over for two years as Test captain) will help us to develop in Tests. Certainly injury and fitness does matter but Shakib is a very experienced cricketer. I think he enjoys Test matches,'' Mahmud said, reported Cricbuzz.

''He is very knowledgeable and even yesterday we spoke about different things regarding the upcoming Test series against West Indies. If he gets the captaincy it will be very helpful for the team."

Shakib featured in the two-Test series against Sri Lanka, but the all-rounder, in recent times, has been accused of not wanting to play the longest format. Shakib missed the series against both South Africa and New Zealand, and him being a frequent absentee in the Test side saw many question his desire to play the longest format. However, Mahmud asserted that the veteran is still ‘very keen’ to play Tests, and showed the same in the series against the Lankans. 

''I don't know why everyone says that he is not interested in playing Test cricket because whenever we talk he is very keen to play Tests,'' Mahmud said.

''He always say that he enjoys Test cricket more than any format and if he wants to play and want to give something I think it might bring some changes,'' he said adding that he proved his love for the longer format game during the home series against Sri Lanka, where he joined the team at the last minute after getting corona clearance.

''I think he proved it( his love for Test cricket) during the series against Sri Lanka as I don't remember when was the last time he bowled for so many overs. We were apprehensive that Shakib might not bowl for many overs but he proved himself. 

“There were lots of talks regarding his fitness but I feel with the ball he is always great and though he could not do anything big with the bat, I feel if he gets the responsibility he will be keen to perform. He wants to play cricket for another two to three years and he should take the team upward.”

When asked about the possibility of Liton Das becoming the next Test captain, Mahmud said that it will be too early to hand the captaincy over to the wicket-keeper batter. The Technical Director also hoped for the resignation to bring back the ‘old Mominul Haque’ with the bat, in the forthcoming series against West Indies starting June 16.

"I think it's too early for him (Litton) as he is a very introvert kind of a guy. I would prefer an extrovert kind of a guy. Naturally you want performance in the field but at the same time you have to manage the dressing room and develop the team culture and in this area captain have a big role.

''I think we should respect Mominul's decision as he wanted to get released from pressure. We hope we will find the old Mominul in the West Indies series.”