Bangladesh national team head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe on Thursday predicted that the next two to three years will be exciting for the country’s cricket as this will be high time for some of the senior cricketers to deliver. ‘I think the next two to three years will be Bangladesh’s golden era,’ Hathurusinghe told reporters in Dhaka after he returned from a long holiday to start a fresh tenure with the Tigers after completing his initial contract of two years.
‘Players of calibre of Tamim (Iqbal), Sakib [al Hasan], Mashrafee [Murtaza], Mushfiq [Rahim], (Mahmudullah) Riyad are all at (their) peak now. This is the time they have to use their experience and consistently perform in international cricket. ‘
Bangladesh enjoyed a considerable success under Hathurusinghe, who replaced Australian Shane Jurgensen in June 2014 to guide them to the World Cup quarter-final for the first time in Australia-New Zealand in 2015.
Bangladesh also defeated Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka in bilateral home series under his tutelage to make a steady progress in one-day international cricket, which also earned them a place in next year’s ICC Champions Trophy in England.
But the coach believes the road ahead is even better as he thought his main players are accentuating their skills by getting experience on playing around the world and now it is time for them to put up a consistent performance away from home.
‘That is going to be exciting era for Bangladesh cricket as well as challenging because in next two years we will play more cricket overseas.
‘In my last two years we played a lot of cricket at home and in Bangladesh condition. So it is going to be a challenge as well as the good era to see our development in Bangladesh cricket.’
Hathurusinghe took over from Jurgensen in 2014 after a disastrous campaign in Asia Cup and ICC World Twenty20 at home. His first two series – against India and at home and away in West Indies – yielded nothing before Bangladesh rediscovered the winning formula in a home series against Zimbabwe.
They never looked back to play some exciting cricket to reach their second Asia Cup final earlier this year. Though Bangladesh failed to fulfill their expectations in the ICC World Twenty20 in India, their improvement in game’s shortest format was clearly visible as they provided Australia a scare and pushed hosts India all the way before bowing out in Super 10 phase.
Hathurusinghe is set to be rewarded for the consistent result with a fresh contract, which will not only earn him a considerable pay hike but it will also increase his authority over the team as the Bangladesh Cricket Board is set to include him in the selection panel.
‘They (the BCB) are going to speak to me in next couple of days about the plan they have,’ he said. ‘I think it is a good concept at the end that I am responsible for the outcome.
‘If I have a say in selection it will make things easier for everyone, the players and as well the selectors. The communication will be much better,’ he said.
The 47-year old Sri Lankan added he kept an eye on some young players in the ongoing Dhaka Premier League, the top domestic 50-over competition, though he refused to mention any name.
‘I don’t want to name anyone yet,’ he said. ‘As a coach it is not focus on one or two players. I have seen the youngsters doing well competing with the senior players. So that is a good sign for any country.’
-With New Age input
