BCB likely to appoint Gary Kirsten as Bangladesh consultant

BCB looking for someone who fits with their environment and mentality for the Tigers.

Gary Kirsten | Getty Images

Bangladesh has been without a Head Coach since Chandika Hathurusingha, who had been in charge since 2014 and led the side to maiden Test wins against England and Australia, stepped down from the role after the Tigers’ disastrous South Africa tour in November this year.

Since then, Bangladesh has been in the hunt for a pertinent personality for the role, although, many have shown interest for the role but Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) have not reached any conclusion.

The BCB president Nazmul Hassan, on Wednesday, said that they are not in any hurry in appointing new Coach for the national side, as they do not want to make so many changes in the side.

Although, Hassan admitted that ‘Hathurusingha's departure has been a blow’ for them, as well as they have taken a slow and steady approach in the appointment, but confirmed the BCB is in the final stage to announce the name for the various roles of the national side.

The BCB chief further added that Gary Kirsten was their first choice for the role, but he is not interested to be the head coach of Bangladesh with other coaching contracts, though he can take up consultant's role, as the Board are closing in on the deal with Kirsten for a wide-ranging consultancy role.

According to a report in ESPN Cricinfo, Nazmul Hassan said, “We are on the back foot, that's for sure. [Chandika] Hathurusingha's departure has been a blow. You can't just take any coach, but someone who fits our environment and mentality. Bangladesh has reached a level which requires us to be thoughtful about bringing a quality coach. Not much chance of a trial and error; we cannot change much in our team. We are not in any hurry.”

He further added on the same, “We were talking to Gary Kirsten for a consultant's role. He would help us figure out what coach to hire for our national team, high-performance side and the Under-19s. He is booked up to February, in the Big Bash. He is involved with the IPL and Big Bash, which is why he is not interested to be the head coach. If we permitted him to work in those leagues, then he may have agreed with us. But we can't let our head coach go like that, which is what we have decided.”

Commenting on Kirsten’s role with Bangladesh, Hassan said, “He is available in the time outside his other roles. At this point, both sides are interested in the [consultancy] role. He will have an overall role in the development of Bangladesh cricket. It might be for six months, but it is hard to pinpoint these things without talking to him first. He is probably coming after February.”

He also hinted that the new batting consultant might announce this week, and prominent names are – South African Neil McKenzie, Grant Flower and Hashan Tillakaratne.

Hassan concluded, “We are very close to announcing someone as a batting consultant. We wanted someone full-time but the person we've chosen is of a higher level. He said we don't need a full-time batting consultant. He has said he will be here ahead of every series and when there are long breaks.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 21 Dec, 2017

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