BCB expands programme, 55 players called up from four groups<\/strong>
\nThe Bangladesh Cricket Board on Thursday added former national cricketer Mohammad Rafique to its coaching panel for the ongoing camp of High Performance unit.
\nRafique, 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.
\n\u2018Obviously he is a very high profile cricketer in our country,\u2019 said
\nNazmul. \u2018He 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.\u2019
\nThis 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.
\nRafique, a qualified level-2 coach, previously coached Abahani
\nLimited in Dhaka Premier League and Dhaka Gladiators and Rangpur Riders in Bangladesh Premier League.
\nThe 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.
\n\u2018I was thinking of taking coaching seriously,\u2019 Rafique told New Age. \u2018I felt this is the right kind of opportunity for me because I had to start from somewhere.
\n\u2018We have many talented cricketers at domestic level. But they cannot excel in international cricket.
\n\u2018I think if I can share my experience with them, they will be benefited,\u2019 said Rafique, arguably the first superstar of Bangladesh cricket and the architect of Bangladesh\u2019s first ever ODI win in 1998.
\nBCB said it was planning to invite a few more former national players in a similar role.
\nCurrently five local coaches \u2014 Zafrul Ehasan, Mizanur Rahman Babul, Sohel Islam, Wadiul Gani and Golam Mortaza \u2014 are in charge of batting, pace bowling, fielding, spin bowling and wicketkeeping groups respectively in HP camp.
\nGame development manager Nazmul said they will be joined by some specialised coaches from time to time.
\n\u2018We are in touch with some former cricketers to see if they can be added in our coaching panel,\u2019 he said. \u2018As an example, I can say the name of Pilot [Khaled Mashud]. He is a very experienced player and also has a good coaching experience.
\n\u2018If he joins our coaching panel, I am sure our boys will learn a lot from him.\u2019
\nThe 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.
\nThe 25 regular members of HP unit are also part of these specialised groups.
\nNazmul added that the cricketers were called up as the Board was planning to hold specialised camp with each group whenever they have the chance.
\nThe programme will continue beyond the nine-week long duration of the ongoing camp.
\n\u2018We will hold the specialised camp for one to two weeks with each group whenever we get a chance,\u2019 said Nazmul. \u2018Initially we are planning to start with the pace bowlers. We will announce the dates soon.\u2019<\/p>\n

-With New Age<\/strong> input<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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 … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_editorskit_title_hidden":false,"_editorskit_reading_time":0,"_editorskit_is_block_options_detached":false,"_editorskit_block_options_position":"{}","footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n