Bangladesh’s coach Chandika Hathurusinghe will begin his tenure as selector by providing his input to finalise the High Performance unit, said Banladesh Cricket Board officials on Tuesday.
Hathurusinghe is set to arrive today after completing his two-month vacation and without much delay he is expected to act as a part of the selection panel.National selectors on Tuesday formed 27-member HP unit that is scheduled to begin a four-month long programme on July 10.
It was learnt that most of the players selected by the panel are young and it will only get final approval after the consent of Hathurusinghe.
The selectors also formed a 24-member squad for the national team preliminary camp, which will begin on July 20. But the BCB delayed the announcement of the preliminary squad for Hathurusinghe, who apparently has the final say.
A selector on request of not to be quoted said that their HP unit is yet to be approved as the consent of Hathurusinghe is not taken in this regard though the coach hardly saw the players outside the national team periphery.
‘I don’t know how he can give input in HP unit as most of them are new and expected not to be very familiar with Hathurusinghe,’ said the selector in a grudging tone.
‘A meeting was called on June 4 where our coach will sit with us to discuss the HP unit,’
‘The numbers can be reduced if the coach decides to pick any player from the HP unit for the primary squad of national primary squad, ‘he said.
BCB sources said that Sri Lankan Marvan Attapattu is all but certain to lead five-member coaching panel of HP unit, which comprises Mohammad Salahuddin, Sohel Islam, Zafrul Ehsan and Mizanur Rahman.
The BCB also delayed the announcement of Attapattu’s name as HP unit head coach as officials are also keen to discuss the matter with Hathurusinghe.
Apart from Attapattu, the likes of Robin Singh, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumara Sangakara also had been considered to replace Englishman Mal Loye in the crucial role.
BCB recently said that they are looking forward to include Hathurusinghe in the selection panel in order to involve him more with Bangladeshi cricketers.
Hathurusinghe will be asked to watch domestic cricket that he preferred to avoid in his opening two years.
He holidayed during the last Bangladesh Premier League and also preferred to stay in Australia during the last one month when most of the matches of the Dhaka Premier League were held.
His contract stipulates him just one month leave annually but the coach enjoyed the leave much, more than his due share.
BCB is all set to renew his contract with 20% pay hike.
-With New Age input
