Bangladesh let go of Courtney Walsh, refuse contract extension
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BCB has announced that it will not be retaining the services of their bowling coach after being unsatisfied of the team’s performance in the recently concluded World Cup. The board’s chief executive also discussed the future of the rest of the coaching staff and the team’s plan for progress.
Gone are the times when Bangladesh would be happy enough with a solitary upset in a World Cup and consider it a satisfactory campaign. The new-age team has evolved from being minnows to reaching the Champions Trophy semi-finals and winning their first multinational trophy in years when they won the Tri-series against Ireland and West Indies earlier in the year.
Hence, even though they ended up with three wins from eight in the World Cup, the Tigers have decided to shuffle things around. The first major decision was taken on Monday as the team axed head coach Steve Rhodes even though he had a contract that ran till the 2020 T20 World Cup.
They have followed it up by dismissing the option to extend bowling coach Courtney Walsh’s contract after it ended post the World Cup. The legendary Windies pacer has been with the team since 2016.
"After the World Cup we sat and discussed the future of our team management. Even if they [supporting staff] want to continue, the board has the right to decide while similarly they have an option to decide even if the board wants to keep them. We have contracts with most of the coaching staff till this World Cup. We have decided to discontinue our contract with couple of them,'' BCB chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told reporters, reported Cricbuzz.
Physio Thian Chandramohan was also shown the door, while the future of spin coach Sunil Joshi, batting consultant Neil McKenzie and fielding coach Ryan Cook will be decided in a board meeting at the month’s end. The team will also be on the search for a new head coach with the upcoming World T20 in mind.
Only yesterday, the team was given security clearance to travel to Sri Lanka and with the first of three ODIs scheduled for July 23, a quick decision might need to be made by the board.
"We will try to appoint a new head coach before the tour of Sri Lanka. We are looking for someone on a long term basis and we want someone who can plan for the Twenty20 World Cup and the next World Cup. If we don't get then we will have to appoint a coach on an interim basis."
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