BCB begins hunt for head coach
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officially began their search for a new head coach for the national team by posting an advertisement for the vacancy on their official website recently.
Interested candidates were asked to submit their CVs by July 18. The post was made vacant when the BCB opted to part ways with Steve Rhodes, whose contract was until after the 2020 ICC World T20, in a decision that was termed mutual. The board authorities provided no official statement behind the move, which revived unanswered questions about the BCB's process for selecting and ejecting coaches.
The BCB faced a lot of criticism for the manner in which they parted ways with Rhodes after a rather disappointing exit from the World Cup, where they finished in eighth position.
According to the advertisement, the candidate must have elite level coaching experience while preference would be given to individuals having experience with any full ICC member national teams.
''Organizing and delivering quality coaching with the aim of improving performance and results of the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. Motivating the players and assisting them in reaching their optimum performance.'' the advertisement read.
Rhodes's stint began in June last year and his time with the Tigers was highlighted by ODI successes, which include bilateral series wins (both home and away) against West Indies, a runners-up finish in the Asia Cup and the nation's first ever multi-nation tournament win in Ireland prior to the World Cup.
Bangladesh's next assignment is a three-match ODI series in Sri Lanka, which begins on July 26. The Tigers are also scheduled to tour India in November for a three-match T20I and two-match ODI series.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's former technical director Khaled Mahmud, who according to sources is among the front runners for the interim head coach position, said that he is ready to step down from his BCB directorship position should he be given the role of head coach on a long term basis.
Mahmud was appointed as the team's technical director during a tri-nation series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe and the following bilateral series against Sri Lanka in 2017 after Chandika Hathurusingha left the job midway through his tenure to join the Sri Lanka national team.
There will be a board meeting later this month where they will decide what further plans need to be made in order to get suitable replacements for some other members of the coaching staff as well.
The BCB did not renew the contracts of bowling coach Courtney Walsh and physio Thian Chandramohan while spin coach Sunil Joshi, who recently joined USA cricket in an advisory capacity, will not be available in the immediate future.
According to sources, the Tigers' limited over batting consultant Neil McKenzie will not travel will them for the upcoming Sri Lanka tour. However, there have been no confirmations made over his availability but it should be mentioned that his contract ended with the World Cup.
Perhaps the former South Africa batsman is also caught up in the uncertainty over his future with Bangladesh.