Support staff still incomplete
With the 2019 ICC World Cup in England now less than two years away, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has a big challenge in hand as the game's governing body seeks to ensure that they leave no stone unturned when it comes to preparing for cricket's showpiece event.
There is no doubt that it's ChandikaHathurusingha who will be the master planner for the mega event. And it is also confirmed that the Sri Lankan will continue to get the assistance of West Indies great Courtney Walsh as pace bowling coach and Richard Halsall as fielding coach.
But the board is yet to make long-term appointments for the positions of batting coach, spin bowling coach and most importantly the national team physio.
The batting coach post has become vacant following the BCB's decision not to continue with ThilanSamaraweera beyond the Champions Trophy. In September last year Samaraweera was appointed the batting consultant of the Tigers and was given an extension till the Champions Trophy this year, but the board reportedly was not happy with his work. It was also learnt that the players were not happy with the Sri Lankan's effort and that they conveyed their opinions to the board.
BCB was looking for a long-term appointment for this post but the reality is that they are most likely going for a short-term solution. Among the names being discussed, former Australian first-class cricketer and coach Mark O'Neill may get the job.
It has been quite some time since the BCB started their search for a spin bowling coach and they have discussed with a number of names. There is however a chance that former Indian spinner Sunil Joshi gets the job as a short-term appointment.
The board was still waiting for the final say from incumbent physio Thihan Chandramohan. According to the BCB, Chandramohan, who had joined the Bangladesh team during the Sri Lanka tour before his stint was extended till the Champions Trophy in June, met with an accident earlier this month, causing him to miss the start of the training camp on July 10.
The board also informed that Chandramohan was still in hospital and they will only start looking for a new physio if he informs that he is unable to join the team, in which case the board will bring local BayezidUl Islam Khan back to the job as he successfully performed the role during his first stint with the national side.
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