Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - BCB decide not to extend fielding coach Ryan Cook's contract. Ryan Cook has served as the fielding coach since 2018.
Ryan Cook has served as the fielding coach since 2018.
Bangladesh Cricket Board announced on Saturday that it has decided not to renew the contract of national fielding coach Ryan Cook following the team's underwhelming performance at the T20 WC.
The board said that it was looking to hire a local fielding coach during the upcoming home series against Pakistan, scheduled from November 19. Cricbuzz has learnt Mizanur Rahman is expected to act as interim fielding coach for the three T20s and two Tests.
Cook, who has been in-charge of Bangladesh fielding unit since 2018, came under fire following the team's poor show in the global event, where they dropped as many as 11 catches in the competition that eventually cost them.
”We will not continue with Cook,” BCB cricket operation chairman Akram Khan told reporters on Saturday (November 13). ”We are going to appoint a new local coach in his place (for this series). We will finalise it on November 16. His [Cook's] contract will expire soon and we are not interested to extend his contract,” he said.
Cook is the first member of the foreign coaching staff to be ousted following the World Cup debacle. Earlier, Bangladesh team manager Sabbir Khan resigned from his post citing personal reasons.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh's preparation for the Pakistan series at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Saturday was compromised by rain. Fifteen cricketers – Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nurul Hasan , Shamim Patwary, Mustafizur Rahman, Towhid Hridoy, Saif Hasan, Yasir Rabbi , Kamrul Islam Rabbi, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, AminuL Islam Biplob, Naim Sheikh, Tanvir Islam, Parvez Hossain , Sohidul Islam – attended the opening day practice session.
Bangladesh head coach Russell Domingo, who is beginning his second term following a two-year extension board, along with other member of the foreign coaching staff had a meeting with selection panel ahead of squad selection.The meeting was also attended by BCB's cricket operation chairman Akram and new team leader Khaled Mahmud.
”We had a meeting today with coaches, selectors, some of the players and the directors. The Pakistan team has arrived today. Pakistan played very well in the ongoing T20 WC. It will be a tough series against Pakistan. We are not in good form but we hope that we will regain our form soon,” said Akram.
BCB came under criticism for preparing low and slow wickets during the home series against New Zealand and Australia but Akram is hopeful the pitches will play this time around.
”The wicket in Mirpur remains the same in that season (July-August) because of weather. But the wicket is good at this time so hope fully we will play against Pakistan on a good wicket,” he said.
This time the wicket will get some rest as there will be a Test match in Chattogram. ”It's not that our performance was poor in the World Cup only because of playing on poor wickets. It was also to do with lacking tactical [accumen], attitude and performance,” he concluded.
Pakistan arrive in Dhaka
Pakistan cricket team arrived in Dhaka on Saturday from Dubai withouth Skipper Babar Azam and Shoaib Malik, who are expected to reach Dhaka on November 16.
BCB officials confirmed to Cricbuzz that all the members of the team have tested negative for coronavirus and now were eligible to start their preparation with the quarantine rules relaxed for the series.
Though Pakistan were expected to start their preparation from November 14, they have since tweaked their plans. ”The team will train at the BCB National Cricket Academy on 15, 16, 17 and 18 November,” said the BCB in a statement.
The three T20Is against are scheduled on November 19, 20 and 22 respectively at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The two-match Test series opener at the Chattogram's Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on November 26. The second Test will be played at Mirpur from December 4.
