The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is set to unveil the new One Day International (ODI) captain following a scheduled board of directors’ meeting on Tuesday at its headquarters, located within the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.

The captaincy position became vacant when Tamim Iqbal relinquished it due to injury concerns. Shakib al Hasan, the team’s Test and Twenty20 captain, stands as a leading contender to succeed Tamim. BCB president Nazmul Hasan expressed on Saturday that appointing Shakib would be the most straightforward decision.

Liton Das, who deputized for Tamim and led the team to a historic series win against India last year, is also being considered, along with Mehedi Hasan Miraz.

The BCB’s primary aim is to designate a captain for the long-term future. While Shakib led the ODI team from 2009 to 2011, securing 22 victories out of 47, and on selected occasions in 2015 and 2017, his total record of 23 ODI wins as captain is closely trailing behind Mashrafe bin Mortaza (50) and Habibul Bashar (29).

Mushfiqur Rahim, a veteran of the current squad, has captained the side to 11 wins from 37 games, but indications suggest he is unwilling to reassume the role.

Although Liton appears to be a natural choice for the captaincy, the BCB’s preference for a long-term solution dims his prospects.

BCB president Nazmul stated, “If it were just a matter of one series, we could have appointed the vice-captain, but we are seeking a lasting solution, hence the need for extensive deliberation.”

Tamim abruptly retired from international cricket last month but reversed his decision within 28 hours after meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He subsequently took a six-week break, seeking medical advice in London. After receiving injections for his recurring back injury without a guarantee of full recovery, Tamim decided to step down as captain. He was also ruled out of the Asia Cup. Tamim is expected to return to the squad during Bangladesh’s three-match ODI series against New Zealand in September.

Though Shakib is the evident choice, BCB president Nazmul expressed concerns about his longevity, given his age. “Shakib is the most obvious choice, but we’re uncertain about his plans for the next two years. We need to discuss this with him,” Nazmul explained.

Shakib has led Bangladesh in seven ODI World Cup matches, securing three wins and enduring four losses. He stands as Bangladesh’s top performer in the cricketing extravaganza, boasting a unique record of 606 runs and 11 wickets in the 2019 World Cup.

Meanwhile, there is strong speculation that the BCB might announce the team for the Asia Cup and World Cup contingent upon finalizing the captaincy decision.

Concurrently, head coach Chandika Hathurusingha is set to arrive in the country to oversee the team during the impending BCB meeting.

A delegation from New Zealand Cricket consisting of four members is currently in Bangladesh to assess the facilities for their upcoming tour in September. The tour will feature a three-match one-day international series. On Wednesday, the NZC team visited the Sylhet International Stadium, a potential venue for the series. Notably, New Zealand has never played in Sylhet despite having visited Bangladesh on numerous occasions.

The delegation team comprises Reg Dickson, the security advisor for NZC, Greg Main, the head of security, Evan Jones from NZ Cricket Players’ Association, and Ryan Muller, the logistics manager. Shahriar Nafees, the cricket operations committee manager of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, informed that the visiting team is satisfied with the facilities in Sylhet and is eagerly looking forward to hosting the tourists at this scenic venue.

“The NZC delegation has come to inspect the venues. While we are yet to finalize the venues for the series, we are considering Sylhet as the preferred location. So far, the delegation has expressed positivity regarding the facilities in Sylhet. Once they confirm, we will ensure even better facilities for them. Bangladesh has always been a gracious host, and we are committed to maintaining that standard,” Shahriar stated during a media interaction.

The three-match series is scheduled to take place after the Asia Cup 2023. However, the Asia Cup schedule is uncertain due to political tensions between the Board of Control for Cricket in India and the Pakistan Cricket Board. The three ODIs between New Zealand and Bangladesh will serve as preparation for both teams ahead of the 2023 World Cup, which will be held in India in October and November.