Home
+
Published : 06 Nov 2024, 01:22 AM
Mohammad Salahuddin has staged a comeback to the coaching staff of the Bangladesh national cricket team after an extended absence, assuming the role of senior assistant coach for five months.
Bangladesh Cricket Board, or BCB, President Faruque Ahmed has been advocating for the appointment of local coaches to the national team’s coaching panel for several days.
BCB officially announced Salahuddin's inclusion in a press release on Tuesday.
However, the duration of his contract is relatively brief, concluding on Mar 15. During his tenure he will be responsible for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Currently, the Bangladesh team are in the United Arab Emirates, where they are scheduled to play three One-Day Internationals against Afghanistan. Salahuddin will not accompany the team for this series.
Subsequently, Bangladesh will travel to the West Indies to play two Tests, along with three ODIs and T20s later this month. Salahuddin's new tenure will commence with this tour.
His cricketing career was not particularly distinguished, having featured in the Dhaka Premier League for several years. But his playing days were dogged by injuries.
He began his coaching journey with part-time roles at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishtan, or BKSP.
In addition to playing for the Comilla Victorians in the Dhaka Premier League, he took on coaching responsibilities and led the team to a championship title with an impressive performance.
His involvement with the national team began in 2006 when he was part of the coaching staff under Dav Whatmore and later Jamie Siddons. He served as both assistant coach and fielding coach until 2010.
Afterwards, he worked as a specialist coach at BCB's National Cricket Academy for an additional year. In 2011, he departed from BCB to coach a university team in Malaysia.
In 2014, Salahuddin was appointed as the head coach of Singapore, under whose guidance the team competed in Division IV of the ICC World Cricket League.
He subsequently dedicated himself to domestic cricket, coaching the Gazi Group Cricketers, who claimed their inaugural Dhaka Premier League title in 2017.
Under his leadership, the Victorians, the most successful team in the Bangladesh Premier League, or BPL, won their first championship in 2015. During his tenure, the trophy was secured four times.
Salahuddin has also served as a mentor to prominent cricketers, including Shakib Al Hasan, Tamim Iqbal, and Muminul Haque, who sought his guidance to teak their batting and bowling.
Former left-arm spinner and current selector Abdur Razzak also benefited from close collaboration with Salahuddin following his suspension for an illegal bowling action.
Faruque expressed optimism that Salahuddin's appointment will encourage the development of other local coaches.
“Since assuming the presidency of the BCB, I have committed to providing opportunities for deserving candidates to contribute to the national team. Salahuddin is well-suited for this role, bringing extensive experience and knowledge. I firmly believe that now is the time to incorporate more Bangladeshi coaches into the national team.”
