Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Chairman Akram Khan confirmed that former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath is the front runner to replace Daniel Vettori as Bangladesh's spin-bowling coach.

Daniel Vettori was unable to continue with his coaching duties regularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of which BCB appointed local spin coach Sohel Islam during the two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka.

Due to paternal leave however, Sohel Islam will not be able to travel with the squad to Zimbabwe. 

BCB Cricket Board (BCB) Chairman Akram Khan confirmed the same to the Cricbuzz and said that they would finalise it before touring Zimbabwe.

Rangana Herath calls for patience as Sri Lanka's quest for next spin giant continues

“Herath is one of the candidates and he is certainly a front-runner for the post. We would try our best to finalise it before the Zimbabwe tour as Australia will be touring Bangladesh just after the Zimbabwe tour with New Zealand and England following suit,” BCB cricket operation chairman Akram Khan told Cricbuzz. 

Earlier on Monday (31st May) Rangana Herath confirmed that he is having discussions with BCB to take up the vacant post.

"I'm at the moment in discussion with them," Rangana Herath told Cricbuzz. 

According to Cricbuzz, apart from Rangana Herath India's Sairaj Bahatule and Pakistan's Saeed Ajmal are the other two candidates in BCB's list. 

Rangana Herath however, has been one of the finest-ever cricketers to play for the island nation. The spinner has scalped 433 wickets at a strike rate of 60.03 from 93 Test matches to go with 34 five-wicket hauls and 9 ten-wicket hauls to his name in the format.

(Cricbuzz inputs)