COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, July 05 (V7N) – Bangladesh cricket team's head coach Phil Simmons will miss the second One Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka on Saturday, July 5, due to a pre-scheduled medical visit to the United Kingdom.

Team manager Nafis Iqbal confirmed the development to the media, stating that Simmons had originally planned this medical appointment back in February but had postponed it to prioritize Bangladesh's commitments in the Champions Trophy.

"This time, the appointment couldn’t be deferred," Nafis explained. "He discussed it with the board before the tour."

Simmons is expected to rejoin the team on July 7, making him available for the third and final ODI of the series.

In his absence, Bangladesh will be led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz, with support from the rest of the coaching staff. The Tigers will be looking to bounce back in the second match, as they currently trail the three-match series 0-1 after suffering a 77-run defeat in the opening encounter on Wednesday. That first match saw a dramatic collapse from Bangladesh, who were well-placed before losing seven wickets for just five runs.

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