Coach search to continue!

Bangladesh Cricket Board's plan to appoint a national coach before the upcoming New Zealand tour suffered a setback after Zimbabwean Dave Houghton withdrew from the race for the demanding job.
The former Zimbabwe skipper, who was in line to place his presentation before the board after Australian aspirant John Harmer, pulled out his name from the three-member probables citing family reason to make BCB's task even more complicated in finding a Dav Whatmore's successor.
Houghton was most likely in the list to the new ad-hoc committee and that was the reason Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, chairman of the cricket operations committee, was a bit frustrated with the latest development. The former national skipper also cast doubt whether it would be possible for them to fill the vacancy before the next assignment, as the appearance of Jamie Siddons, the other Australian candidate, for the presentation is also uncertain.
"Houghton informed us that he has to stay with his elderly parents and that it would be impossible for him to stay in the race. We are in a difficult situation about appointing the new coach," said Lipu.
"No doubt we will desperately try to settle the issue before the next assignment but everybody should understand one thing that we should appointment someone who is fit for the job. We can't compromise with our requirements," he added.
Lipu also hinted that they will extend their search to the subcontinent.
"We are also trying to negotiate with new coaches besides those in the shortlist. Of course we extend our search for coaches in the subcontinent because we desperately need coaches not only for the national team but also at different levels in the system," he said.
If the board ultimately fails to find out a new coach for the tough tour to New Zealand, then there is a big problem. If they continue with the interim coach Shaun Williams, cricket development activities will be severely hampered.
Williams, the national game development manager, has been acting as a stop-gap option since the last Sri Lanka tour but the present board is seriously concerned about his absence in the development programme.
And in that case, BCB has to rely on a makeshift arrangement with the local like what the Indian authorities have done but Lipu said they still have sometime to think about the new man.
The new cricket operations committee boss however was excited by the fact that the national players are going to get enough match practice before the trip as it is all set to start the season with the national cricket league from first week of next month.
"It's always better to play matches. I am hopeful that this seasons' first-class competition will be more competitive which can make an impact in our performance in the very tough tour in New Zealand," he said.