BAN Vs PAK: Bangladesh Cricket Board To Sack Majority Of The Coaching Staff After Shambolic Results In ICC World Cup 2023- Report

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is poised to usher in a significant overhaul within their coaching staff following the culmination of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. A reliable source within the BCB has confirmed this impending development to Cricbuzz. While the fate of head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and assistant coach Nick Pothas remains steady for the moment, given their recent appointments leading up to the World Cup, their tenure hinges on delivering results in the future.

The BCB’s intentions are unmistakably clear as they have no interest in extending the contracts of their pace bowling coach, Allan Donald, and spin bowling coach, Rangana Herath, along with their fielding coach, Shane McDermott.

Concurrently, the team’s analyst, Shrinivas Chandrasekaran, is set to step down from his position following the marquee tournament in India. His decision is attributed to personal reasons. Shrinivas, who has been part of the team since 2017, explained to BCB officials that the extensive travel associated with the role had become untenable, especially after the loss of his father. Despite the BCB’s offer of a contract extension to retain him within the national set-up beyond the ongoing global event, Shrinivas opted to decline.

Speaking about his decision, Shrinivas remarked, “Yeah, not going to continue. BCB was kind enough to offer me, but I declined since my father passed away, and it has become extremely difficult to leave my mom and wife alone at home and travel.”

Chandika Hathurusingha Will Remain The Head Coach Of Bangladesh

Chandika Hathurusingha, who had previously coached the team from 2014 to 2017, embarked on a new two-year contract with the BCB, commencing in February 2023. This came as a replacement for Russell Domingo, who left his post prematurely. Assistant coach Nick Pothas signed a two-year contract in April.

Bangladesh’s performance in the ongoing ICC World Cup has been far from satisfactory, with the team enduring five consecutive losses. Skipper Shakib Al Hasan expressed his disappointment, deeming it as Bangladesh’s worst showing in a global tournament in recent history.

It is worth noting that in a prior instance, the BCB and former head coach Steve Rhodes decided to part ways following a lackluster performance in the previous World Cup. The separation was described as mutual, but it has since been suggested that Rhodes may have been something of a scapegoat in the larger context.

Speaking about the coaching changes, Bangladesh pace bowler Taskin Ahmed noted, “No coaches harmed us, but everyone has a time limit. At times it is extended, and at times it is not. There are times when the coach doesn’t want to stay, while there are times when the board doesn’t want to keep the coach.

“When they leave, there are a lot of talks, and it happens for most of them when they are leaving, but how much of it is true, even we don’t know. Later we come to know that he is leaving for this or that reason, but whoever worked with us has helped us.”

Taskin’s perspective sheds light on the transient nature of coaching roles in the world of cricket, where individuals often come and go, leaving behind their unique contributions to the team’s development. Bangladesh will now face Pakistan on Tuesday at the Eden Gardens.