BCB expands programme, 55 players called up from four groups
The Bangladesh Cricket Board on Thursday added former national cricketer Mohammad Rafique to its coaching panel for the ongoing camp of High Performance unit.
Rafique, the first Bangladeshi cricketer to claim 100 Test wickets, will work as a consultant coach with the spin bowling group of HP unit during the nine-week long camp.BCB game development manager Nazmul Abedin said Rafique will be invited to HP camp time to time to share his playing experience with the talented youngsters.
‘Obviously he is a very high profile cricketer in our country,’ said
Nazmul. ‘He was star at a time when we were still struggling in international cricket. We believe our young spinners will be benefitted by knowing his experience.’
This will be a first formal appointment for Rafique in a BCB set up since he retired in 2008 with the Test match against South Africa in Chittagong.
Rafique, a qualified level-2 coach, previously coached Abahani
Limited in Dhaka Premier League and Dhaka Gladiators and Rangpur Riders in Bangladesh Premier League.
The all-rounder, who played 33 Tests and 125 one-day internationals, appeared excited to get an opportunity to return to mainstream cricket with the coaching job.
‘I was thinking of taking coaching seriously,’ Rafique told New Age. ‘I felt this is the right kind of opportunity for me because I had to start from somewhere.
‘We have many talented cricketers at domestic level. But they cannot excel in international cricket.
‘I think if I can share my experience with them, they will be benefited,’ said Rafique, arguably the first superstar of Bangladesh cricket and the architect of Bangladesh’s first ever ODI win in 1998.
BCB said it was planning to invite a few more former national players in a similar role.
Currently five local coaches — Zafrul Ehasan, Mizanur Rahman Babul, Sohel Islam, Wadiul Gani and Golam Mortaza — are in charge of batting, pace bowling, fielding, spin bowling and wicketkeeping groups respectively in HP camp.
Game development manager Nazmul said they will be joined by some specialised coaches from time to time.
‘We are in touch with some former cricketers to see if they can be added in our coaching panel,’ he said. ‘As an example, I can say the name of Pilot [Khaled Mashud]. He is a very experienced player and also has a good coaching experience.
‘If he joins our coaching panel, I am sure our boys will learn a lot from him.’
The BCB on Thursday also named 55 cricketers from four separate groups for an expanded programme of HP unit. The cricketers include 23 batsmen, 16 pace bowlers, 12 spinners and four wicketkeepers.
The 25 regular members of HP unit are also part of these specialised groups.
Nazmul added that the cricketers were called up as the Board was planning to hold specialised camp with each group whenever they have the chance.
The programme will continue beyond the nine-week long duration of the ongoing camp.
‘We will hold the specialised camp for one to two weeks with each group whenever we get a chance,’ said Nazmul. ‘Initially we are planning to start with the pace bowlers. We will announce the dates soon.’
-With New Age input
