Sri Lankan spin legend Rangana Herath has declined a new offer from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), leaving the national team’s spin bowling mentor position vacant. This adds to the BCB’s woes as they grapple with several key coaching positions needing to be filled and the national team yet to play an international match in 2024.
Rangana Herath, who served as Bangladesh’s spin bowling coach for two years until late 2023, was initially interested in the Bangladesh Cricket Board – BCB’s new role, which focused on mentoring spinners across the country for 200 days a year. However, after consulting his lawyers, he ultimately rejected the offer as per Cricbuzz.
This decision leaves a crucial gap in Bangladesh’s coaching setup, especially considering their struggles in the spin department. Fielding coach Shane McDermott has also recently departed, and the BCB is actively seeking replacements for several other positions, including strength and conditioning coach, batting coach, assistant coach, pace bowling coach, and analyst.
Bangladesh Cricket in limbo
The lack of official matches scheduled for the national team further compounds the uncertainty surrounding Bangladesh cricket. With the top players currently involved in the ongoing BPL and the talented youngsters participating in the U19 World Cup, there’s a sense of waiting and wondering about the team’s next steps.
Fans eagerly await the announcement of the upcoming Sri Lanka series, scheduled for two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is, as per the ICC’s Future Tours Programme (FTP). However, with key coaching positions unfilled and no international matches on the horizon, the immediate future of Bangladesh cricket remains unclear.
This situation raises questions about the BCB’s planning and direction. Can they attract high-caliber coaches amidst these uncertainties? How will they manage the team’s preparation without regular international exposure? Only time will tell how Bangladesh cricket navigates these challenges and finds its way back to the international stage.
