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Domingo feels comfortable in new-normal environment

  • Sports Correspondent
  • 24th February, 2022 10:54:39 PM
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Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo indicated that he is quite comfortable working with team director Khaled Mahmud and newly-appointed batting consultant Jamie Siddons in the national dressing room.

“For me, the team director (Khaled Mahmud) is very much a link between me and the board members. Communicate what’s happening. Communicate what we are thinking about selection. I got enough on my plate to talk to directors about what the line-up is going to be, what the toss is going to do. I don’t want to be focusing on that. Great to have Chacha (Mahmud) there as he can feed all those information and take the stress away from me,” Domingo told reporters while adding that he welcomes newly-appointed batting coach Jamie Siddons on the board.

“He (Siddons) is an experienced coach who has worked all around the world. He knows the system. He probably knows these players better than I do. He has been here before. It is good to have him on board. He will bring a lot of experience to our coaching staff,” he said.

Bangladesh Cricket Board appointed Khaled Mahmud team director while appointed former head coach Jamie Siddons as the batting consultant of the senior team that many believe is a move to curtail the power of Domingo in the national dressing room. Mahmud can have a say in the playing XI.

Domingo said that he is not interested to pay heed to criticism made by former skipper Mashrafe Mortaza regarding his coaching philosophy.

Mashrafe always chooses to criticise the coach in public after he comes up with a failure coupled with accusing him that he did not have a cup of coffee with him that he promised to know about his future plan.

“Has Mash retired yet?” questioned Domingo.

“To be honest, I am interested in players (Mashrafe) that are not part of the squad at the moment. Like I said, noise from outside – what people say or write – not that important in my life. My focus is on my team, my family and my job. Not too much else,” he said, adding that he does not lose his sleep with all the talks behind his back.

“You must ask the BCB. If I weren't a confident coach, I wouldn't be coaching an international team. Whatever the media or public say, for me, I don't wanna sound rude, but it is not that important. You can write what you want about me and the players, I must keep that noise away from the players. If I get affected by it, I can't expect my players to not be affected by it,” Domingo concluded.