BSP-10 BCB closes in on to appoint a batting, spin bowling coach

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ZCZC

BSP-10

CRICKET-BD-COACHES

BCB closes in on to appoint a batting, spin bowling coach

DHAKA, May 31, 2021 (BSS)—The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is all set to appoint its batting and spin bowling coach ahead of the side’s Zimbabwe tour.

The Tigers will leave the country on June 29 for one Test, three ODIs and as many T20Is in Zimbabwe.

While BCB’s spin bowling coach’s position has been vacant since Daniel Vettori’s contract expired, batting coach Jon Lewis was appointed only for the West Indies and New Zealand series. The BCB is also mulling for a change of batting coach.

BCB Cricket Operations Chairman Akram Khan said they have already shortlisted the name of spin bowling coach and batting coach, who will be appointed before the Zimbabwe tour.

“We decided in principle to appoint a spin coach for us from the sub-continent. We have already talked to a coach from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. There are some players in team who wants Sohel Islam as the spin bowling coach. We will consult with our senior players and coaching staff before finalizing the matter,” Akram said here today.

“We have a batting coach in John Lewis but some show interest in him and some don’t. We have to decide first whether we will retain his service. If we don’t retain, we have already two/three shortlisted coaches and amongst them one coach earlier worked with the team in Bangladesh. We hope everything will be finalized within three or four days.”

Although Akram didn’t reveal the name of the batting and spin bowling coach, a reliable source in BCB confirmed that BCB already chose Sri Lanka’s former left-arm spinner Rangana Herath as the team’s spin bowling coach.

Herath, who retired from International cricket in 2018, claimed 433 wickets in 93 Tests while in 71 ODIs, he took 74 wickets. Herath was also a member of the Sri Lanka T20 World Cup winning team. He had 18 wickets in 17 T20Is. In first class cricket, Herath had 1080 wickets in 270 matches.

At the same time, BCB is interested in Jamie Siddons as the team’s batting coach. Siddons was earlier the head coach of the side and under his guidance, the likes of Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah flourished as world class batsmen.

“In this pandemic period, it is tough to recruit coaches for the long term. But we hope that we can finalize everything before the Zimbabwe series. We have Australis series coming up and then New Zealand England will tour Bangladesh,” Akram said.

BSS/SMP/AU/17:10 hrs