Psychologist for Tigers

Sports psychologist Dr Soumendra Saha has joined the Tigers camp as a consultant yesterday as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) looked to strengthen their support staff ahead of the 2011 World Cup, where they are one of the co-hosts along with India and Sri Lanka.
Soumendra Saha, who is a professor at the Department of Sports Science at the University Sains Malaysia, stated that his main focus would be to assist the players so that they can take their performance one step forward.
"They (players) are all professionals and well aware of their job. My focus will be to help them so that they can take their performance forward," said Soumendra while talking to reporters during a practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur yesterday.
"The expectation will be sky-high during the World Cup. The fans definitely want to see their team playing good cricket during the World Cup as hosts. So, it would be an issue. We will talk with the players first to share ideas and then I will assess on how to progress," said Soumendra who will be assisted in his job by his spouse Srilekha Saha.
Soumendra will work with the Tigers for a short period of time. "I will stay here for the next three weeks and will then be on call whenever necessary. I also have a commitment with my university," he added.
Bangladesh's next assignment is to play a five-match one-day series against New Zealand at home next month and after that they will play another one-day series against Zimbabwe before the World Cup.
Meanwhile, English coach Julian Fountain has started his stint with the Bangladesh national cricket team as a specialist fielding coach. However, the board is currently at the spot of bother regarding the appointment of the specialist bowling coach.
BCB failed to make any deal with the South African all-rounder Lance Klusener and media committee chairman Jalal Yunus informed that there was also hardly any chance to rope in former Indian paceman Venkatesh Prasad or former English pacer Andy Caddick.
"Prasad is likely to join as an ACC's development coach while Caddick is currently attending to his own business," informed Yunus.
"Although we are pressed for time, we are still looking for a foreign bowling coach," he added.