The Bangladesh Cricket Board received mixed news from its Australian coaching staff in recent times as Under-19 team technical adviser Stuart Law confirmed his arrival in January while High Performance manager Stuart Karppinen tendered his resignation. Law, who is scheduled to spend 24 weeks with the Junior Tigers in three phases ahead of the ICC Under-19 World Cup, left Dhaka in September after the first phase and did not return.
Law was reportedly concerned about his security following some advisories issued by the Australian government. Australia’s department of foreign affairs and trade repeatedly warned its citizens of visiting Bangladesh in October-November, citing security concerns.
Australian cricket team cancelled its planned visit to Bangladesh as a result. It also made Law’s return uncertain, though the BCB always remained hopeful.
‘Law will arrive as per schedule next week and will honour his contact,’ said BCB’s chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowhdury.
‘He missed the second phase of his contract but will now complete the third phase which will continue for eight weeks.
BCB officials said Law will return on January 2 and will start his work with the Junior Tigers immediately.
While Law’s return came as a huge relief for the BCB, it suffered a blow as High Performance manager Karppinen submitted his resignation letter on Friday.
‘I am leaving the BCB on February 18,’ Karppinen, who served a two-month notice on December 18, told New Age.
‘Probably, I had enough,’ he said, without elaborating the reason for his abrupt resignation.
Karppinen said he will leave Dhaka next week and return after Xmas to honour the remaining part of his notice period.
He is expected to conduct the Pacer Hunt programme during this period.
BCB chief executive Nizamuddin confirmed the matter and said Karppinen citied family reason for his resignation.
‘He has some family reasons for resignation,’ said Niazmuddin, adding that they will reorganise the HP unit after his departure.
‘No one is indispensable,’ said Nizamuddin. HP unit is an ongoing programme and we will run it as per schedule. If necessary we will recruit new people for it,’ he said.
Karppinen was under contract with the BCB up to July 2016. He worked as the physical performance manager of the BCB before the Board approved his appointment as the National Cricket Academy Performance Manager in a meeting on October 24, 2012.
-With New Age input
