Former national captain Khaled Mahmud has been named assistant coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed the former all-rounder as Jamie Siddons's assistant when the board of directors resumed its September 9 adjourned meeting yesterday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
Mahmud, who joined BCB as the operations manager of the national cricket academy after making his last international appearance against Sri Lanka in February 2006, was with the national team during the tours of West Indies and Zimbabwe and the board was highly impressed with his performance during the tours.
"We are very much happy with his contribution and you know we have always believed in him because we know he has got the quality to serve the national team. He got a chance and availed it," said BCB's media committee chairman Jalal Yunus.
But there was confusion over the status of Mahmud as the 38-year-old former all-rounder had been working under the development committee since he got the appointment as the academy operations manager and the contract runs till March 2010. And there is a different rule and financial package for BCB's common employees and the employees of the team management.
"We confirmed him as assistant coach till March 2010 and the package will be discussed later. The cricket operations committee will take the decision after discussions with Mahmud. Actually it's our policy to involve former national skippers with this kind of job and it's our first step towards that," Jalal explained.
Mahmud however was excited with the board's decision.
"It's a big achievement in my career," he said.
The BCB also confirmed extension of all the staff's contracts in the team management except fielding coach Mohammad Salahuddin, as his contract will be reviewed after Zimbabwe's tour of Bangladesh in November this year.
"Question was raised about his [Salahuddin's] performance and that's why the cricket operations committee has suggested to assess his performance," said Yunus.
Bangladesh bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake's has been reassigned with the national team until March 31, 2010 while national team's computer analyst Nasir Ahmed's contract has been extended up to June 30, 2010.
The contracts of age-group selectors Ehsanul Haque and Sajjad Ahmed were also extended till June 30, 2010.
The board has appointed Mahmudul Hasan as captain of the Bangladesh Under-19 team while Amit Majumder as his deputy for Zimbabwe and England's tours to Bangladesh this year.
The contract with national team sponsors Grameenphone will expire on October 31, but as the contract is expiring during an ongoing tour [Zimbabwe's tour], therefore the agreement will be place until November 15 on mutual understanding between two parties.
The BCB has also agreed in principle to reschedule Bangladesh's tour of England in 2010 due to the Asia Cup tournament in June. The BCB and the England and Wales Cricket Board are working out a new schedule which has not been finalised yet.