BCB, Siddons talk contract

After agreeing in principle to extend the tenure of head coach Jamie Siddons in the second week of this month, the Bangladesh Cricket Board yesterday held an informal meeting with coach Jamie Siddons over the terms of his new contract.
The Australian coach was given an extension up till the 2011 ICC World Cup in the subcontinent after he replaced his compatriot Dav Whatmore two years ago.
Siddons returned to Bangladesh on Thursday last after undergoing a successful skin cancer surgery in Australia. The Bangladesh head coach flew to Australia from Zimbabwe in August to diagnose his skin cancer following Bangladesh's 4-1 ODIs series triumph in Zimbabwe.
Eyanet Hossain Siraj, the chairman of the BCB cricket operations committee, however, said that he just had a friendly chat with Siddons. "It was just an informal meeting with him (Siddons) and we heard about his physical condition after the surgery. Besides as the chairman of the cricket operations committee, I wanted to congratulate him following Bangladesh's brilliant results in West Indies and Zimbabwe. It was not possible before because he wasn't in the country at that time.”
Siraj said that they would later fix a date to discuss about the terms and conditions of the new contract and asked the coach to let them know about the contract if he had any observation.
The BCB directors said that the coach expressed his satisfaction over the extension of his job till the next World Cup.
The meeting also discussed about Bangladesh's preparation ahead of the home series against Zimbabwe, England and the tri-nation tournament next year.
"We discussed about Bangladesh's future itineraries," said Siraj adding that Siddons had no reservation with the appointment of former captain Khaled Mahmud as his assistant.
It was reported that the coach did not take the move cordially, as the BCB did not discuss the matter with him previously.
“He has no reservation with Mahmud. He told me that the appointment of Mahmud would help him," said Siraj.
The BCB official said Siddons had some observation over his new deal, which he will forward to the cricket operations committee in due manner for further discussion.