Local presence a fillip for domestic game
As Bangladesh's national team mature and go from strength to strength on the world stage, there will soon arise a need for that progress on the highest level to be matched in the lower levels of the domestic game, and there are some signs of that happening in the team's ongoing training camp.
The official coaching staff -- comprising assistant and fielding coach Richard Halsall, bowling coach Courtney Walsh, batting consultant Mark O'Neil, trainer Mario Villavarayan and physio Thihan Chandramohan -- are busy fine-tuning the cricketers before the start of the all important home series.
But apart from the foreign staff there were two local coaches in Mizanur Rahman and Sohel Islam assisting the national team.
Akram Khan, former national captain and chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) cricket operations committee, informed that the main idea behind including local coaches in the national set-up is to assist the coaching staff, but at the same time it will help them to gather more knowledge, which they can share and disseminate when they return to coaching at the age levels and the domestic circuit.
“As we have a big set of players in the national camp we have included local coaches to assist the coaching staff. But at the same time the knowledge and experience they are gathering from the foreign coaches will certainly help when they return to the age levels and domestic circuit. Obviously it's a good opportunity for them to learn and I think they will benefit from this,” Akram told The Daily Star over the phone yesterday.
Mizanur, who coached the Under-19 team that was led by Mehedi Hasan Miraz in the last ICC Under-19 World Cup, is a familiar face among the local cricketers.
On the other hand Sohel has previously worked as the national team's fielding coach and is also known as the mentor of Mehedi, who credited his influence after his outstanding debut against England last year.
The inclusion of local coaches in the national camp with the presence of the foreign staff can help them gain more experience. The BCB has often stated its intent to enhance local resources for the future and undoubtedly this is a step in the right direction, which will boost the morale of local coaches. For the good of domestic cricket, it can be hoped that such steps will be replicated in the future.
Comments