The controversy regarding cricket coaches for test teams has been a talking point of all Test playing countries especially during the times of their appointment or sacking, retirement or even resignation.
Former Bangladesh national opening batsman Ishtiaque Ahmad shared his views with BSS in this regard today.
“Bangladesh currently faces a similar predicament after Hathurasingha’s unexpected and controversial resignation following the team’s dismal performance during their recent tour of South Africa,” said the cricket pundit.
He said there were lots of qualms prevailing within the camp also involving the coach it did give rise to certain controversies starting from team selection to players’ injury concerns or even decisions relating to batting or fielding after winning the toss.
Ishtiaque said it was perhaps the high-handedness of the coach particularly in terms of team selection that emanated a bit of annoyance not only amongst the media but also amongst some of the senior players as well.
“Before the post-mortem by the BCB after the disastrous South African sojourn a lot of speculation had gone in to the role of the Bangladesh coach as many had begun to question the clout he was enjoying in so far the overall management of the team was concerned,” he said.
The former national captain said the resignation and the eventual departure of Chandika Haturasinghe could be viewed as one of sheer audacity or one of frustration due to fall out between him and some of the senior players as is being assumed.
“Be that as it may but the unprofessional manner of his action or his decision to quit may lead one to believe that the BCB ought to be guarded when it comes to dealing or negotiating with international coaches in future,” he said.
He felt that Haturasinghe was largely instrumental in elevating Bangladesh cricket not just in terms of its rankings but also transforming the team into a winning combination.
“Haturasinghe also instilled the self-confidence amongst the players required to deliver at the highest level,” Ishtiaque said.
He said BCB boss Nazmul Hasan Papon must be given a lot of credit for the success achieved by Bangladesh because of his foresight and his instant rapport with the coach wherein he was able to inspire discipline in the side and the thought process of all concerned.
” The discretion and authority given to the coach thereafter proved to a master stroke from where Mashrafe grew as a leader from strength to strength and his charges started to showcase their talents as a world beaters,” he said.
Ishtiaque said beating almost all the sides in ODI, especially at home, and also experiencing Test victories against the teams like England and Australia can be attributed as stupendous performances and that Haturasinghe had masterminded the entire episode is also beyond doubt.
“In all fairness, coaches such as Haturasinghe who are from those breeds who usually have that ‘thinking out of the box’ kind of approach needed to be given the discretionary power needed for them to bring about the desired result,” he said.
Ishtiaque, now a country’s leading banker, on the conclusion leaves some advices for the national board.
“The BCB while having to take into consideration the contributions made by Haturasinghe will also feel hard done by because of his decision to quit despite being paid so heftily and would want to thrash out any serious decisions or reasons that may have led to this abrupt decision to quit,” he said.
Ishtiaque opined that it is imperative that BCB ought to handle the issue more professionally than what the coach may have done in haste and an amicable solution must be reached with or without the retention of his services.
“The selection of the next coach therefore would be an area wherein BCB will have to do a lot of brainstorming before signing of the contract,” he said.
The former Bangladesh opener said BCB should not only ensure that the new coach would be responsible for the senior team but must have his regular inputs for the overall development of the game and justify the return on investment made on him.
“To serve the purpose of cricket and its overall development, one name that can or may be considered is John Buchanan the former Australian coach who is presently involved with New Zealand cricket,” he said.
Ishtiaque said John Buchanan was not only responsible for elevating Australia as the number one Test playing country but was able to maintain that for a good period of time.
“Buchanan was not only instrumental in establishing the enviable record of fifteen straight victories but also had a fantastic working relationship with the star players like Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting,” he said.
Ishtiaque said Buchanan had also the uncanny ability to bring about the best from the team despite not having played cricket at the highest level.
“Indeed a food for thought for the BCB whiles on the look-out for yet another high profile coach,” he said.
