Dear Naimur Rahman

Dear Naimur Rahman,

Have you ever wondered why our cricket has not progressed much the last fifteen years? Have you pondered how we could shed the underdog, whipping boys tagline the world associates us with? Well one reason is we often do not value the thoughts and work done by the individuals who have helped us most in our journey. Gordon Greenidge who helped us qualify for our first World Cup, and make our first real strides in international cricket could not even come back, as the cricketing authority rebuked his stance on why Bangladesh was not ready for test cricket. How right was he? Despite all his contributions to our cricket Dav Whatmore ended his stint in a bitter way. It’s no secret the world cup winning coach endured a great deal of difficulty with administrators during his term. Jamie Siddons faced similar issues, and his contract was not extended when he could offer a lot more. Richard McIness considered the architect of Bangladesh’s present team, resigned from his role as High Performance Manager last year as he did not receive the support he required to fulfill his vision. Sometimes I wonder how far we could have gone if we paid heed to the wisdom of such world class coaches. Strangely we tend to make more noise in the cricketing world for the wrong reasons, and by publicizing your stance against Bangladesh’s current coach Chandika Hathurusingha you sir have successfully added yet another negative headline!

In 2014, Bangladeshi cricket was in a state of freefall. A culture of indiscipline, complacency, lack of processes/system set in leading to disastrous outcomes including defeats to Hong Kong, Afghanistan along with numerous spineless collapses. However you managed to put an end to the decline by appointing Chandika Hathurusingha along with a very capable support staff. Your judgment in coach selection was excellent! In a very short span of time, Hathurusingha and co have managed to turn the team around and change their fortunes on the field. Our boys now play with a lot more self belief and character. This new found belief, and organization eventually helped us succeed in World Cup 2015-winnig us admiration and respect of the world. When Bangladesh cricket is finally on such a high, it is strange that you decided to take a swing to bring everything down.

Hathurusingha’s comments on selection may have breached your code of conduct. But why couldn’t such a matter be solved in the confinements of BCB office? Why did such an internal issue have to be publicized  in a way that may be embarrassing or humiliating to a person who only deserves praise for the good work he has done so far. You say it is a breach of code of conduct to talk openly against someone. Isn’t it hypocritical that you term him immature and accuse him of highlighting his own achievement over that of the team? Is that not a breach of your code of conduct? Being a former captain and long time administrator you should know our media has the habit of asking direct and sensitive questions. Ever wondered about the nuances of intercultural communication? A candid and forthright personality like Hathurusingha may tackle such questions in a direct way which may not necessarily be an attacks on a player or administrator. You would also know how certain media outlets have the habit of twisting such stories to sell their papers. It is also strange you found the coach to be glorifying his own achievements when he was crediting his charges and harnessing on the concept of teamwork.

In the given context, the given time, right after a successful World Cup and just before the Pakistan tour your stance towards the coach, the words you have chosen seem more indicative of a grudge or personal agenda. To an outsider it is seems to be a reflection of envy of the coach’s achievement and your desire  to flex your muscles and show off your power. It is as if you did not care about the timing of such an outburst right before an important series. An ugly spat with the coach will not help you help you gain any recognition. It will only hurt the teams morale, demotivate the coach and threaten his continuity. Before joining West Indies recently, Phil Simmons worked with Cricket Ireland for nearly 8 years. They listened to him, implemented his ideas and worked with a long term vision. What is the longest a coach has worked with Bangladesh, ever wondered how Irish cricket has progressed so well with so little infrastructure and support? Sadly we did not learn from our mistakes from the Greenidge’s, Whatmore’s, Siddons. Please do not add to the list of mistakes. This way we will be in the same place ten years down the line-as the perennial underachievers. Solve such matters amicably, respectfully, listen to the coach-otherwise why did you hire him in the first place. Do not let the 160 million cricket crazy fanatics down. We all long for the improvement and success only qualified and capable coaches like Chandika Hathurusingha can bring us. Help them, support their vision, but do not be an obstacle.

Thanking You

A Loyal Tigers Fan

The author is a passionate Bangladeshi cricket fan based out of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He welcomes comments and feedback at jeeshan2000@gmail.com

Why Tigers Needs Nasir Hossain & What They Need From Him

By: Jeeshan Mirza

Imagine three distinct cricketing scenarios. You are chasing or batting first; there is a quick flurry of wickets and potential for collapse. Second, you are chasing a sizeable total; you have got off to a good start but you need to bat out the middle over’s steadily, keeping the run rate at manageable level, keeping wickets in hand so that you can have a go towards the end. Third, you are batting first, your  top order has given you a steady platform, and you need to finish the last 20 over’s well to set a competitive total. If you were a captain or coach of a team who would you want in your batting lineup for such scenarios? Chances are Michael Bevan would make your shortlist, sometimes even ahead of the Tendulkar’s and Lara’s.

In his ten year career, Bevan has carved a unique niche for himself as an ODI finisher, a middle order lynchpin who won many a game for Australia with his determined and organized batting. His nerves of steel and never say die attitude bailed his team out of trouble on many occasions. While most wont categorize him amongst the greats, the Australian will always remain a benchmark as a finisher.

In his short career, Nasir Hossain has played many knocks which typify the role Michael Bevan used to played for Australia. In him, Bangladesh finally has a batsman who thrives under challenging circumstances and does it consistently-a rare trait among Bangladesh’s talented yet underperforming players. But 2014 has been a cruel year to Nasir. While he averaged 35 (ODI) in 2012, and 64 in 2013, he averages a disappointing 20 in 2014. Many feel Bangladesh’s woeful form this year could be attributed partly to Nasir’s poor run. In fact the Tigers have failed to close many games from favorable situations because of their inability to finish and handle pressure-something they have depended on Nasir to do. Batting collapses are also becoming common place.

Selected Nasir Hossain’s Bevan Type Knocks

Nasir’s predicament is not unusual in Bangladeshi cricket. Tigers have seen many a talent start off their careers with a bang, give fans great hope and expectation, only to lose form then slowly slide into oblivion. But in this case followers truly hope, Nasir doesn’t follow the path of his predecessor and instead work hard on his game and make a comeback.

A tenacious cricketer like Nasir will always be among the 20 percent, who influence 80 percent of Bangladesh’s outcomes. Thus getting him back in form should be a key concern for head coach Chandika Hathurusingha; who has a reputation as change agent. Being dropped from the test squad and first two ODI’s for the Zimbabwe series shouldn’t dishearten the Rangpur youngster. Rather he should seize this opportunity to re-evaluate his game and approach so that he can come back stronger. Here are a few ideas for Nasir Hossain and the coaching team to ponder about from the career of Michael Bevan.

Be There Till The End

Asia Cup 2014, Bangladesh Vs Afghanistan, Fatullah.

Nasir Hossain came to bat at 69/3 with the team in deep trouble chasing 255. Pressure performing in front of home crowd, a spirited Afghanistan team, the fear of losing to an associate-all these aspects troubled the Tigers. Situation was ripe for Nasir to play a heroic rescue knock-like he had done so often in the past. He was pretty much on track until the runs got clogged, and required run rate kept creeping up. Despite having the game well within reach with plenty of overs left, Nasir couldn’t take the pressure. So he decided to go on the offensive leading to his dismissal. At the end the Tigers fell short by 32 runs; but had he been around to partner Ziaur Rahman and the rest of the tail, the Tigers could have won.

Michael Bevan had a simple policy that defined his batting-he would always be there till the end. Bevan described his approach in an interview-“Even when it looks hard to score, it’s about being disciplined and carrying out your plans. One of my goals was to be there till the end. I figured that if I was there till the end we would win more matches than we lost. Of course, I didn’t score a run a ball every minute, but that was my goal”.

Bevan was indeed a master of being not out. Many critics said this was a selfish approach, and one that aided his batting average more than his team. Placing great value on his wicket, Bevan would avoid any high risk shots even if the situation demanded big hitting. But with him around till the last ball, Australia always had a better probability of winning.

If Nasir followed this approach against Afghanistan, he would have had 12 more over’s to help his team, instead of throwing it away in the 38th over. Even if he gave away dots, with wickets in hand and the teams experience would have tilted the game in Bangladesh’s favor. Despite batting at 6, 7 and 8, Nasir has a relatively low not out percentage indicating he often throws it away before the job is done.

Not Outs: Best Finishers & Bangladeshi Middle Order Batsmen

Rotate & Dictate

While not a natural big hitter, Bevan was perfectly capable of reaching the boundary if required. In a Rest of the World Vs Asia XI match played in Dhaka, the Australian hit 19 fours, and five sixes in a 185* knock from 132 balls at a strike rate of 140.2-a rare innings where he took the long handle approach (Not bad for a person who only hit 21 sixes in his entire 232 ODI’s). In an Australian shirt though, he preferred a more safe and responsible approach. He would constantly hit in the “V”, play to third man, nudge here and there for singles. A good eye and soft hands allowed him to pierce the gaps, or place between fielders for twos and threes. His good judgment and furious running between the wicket would allow him to put pressure on the field and convert ones to two’s and two’s to three. He owed his tireless running ability to high level of fitness and stamina-something he worked on religiously.

Once set, he would not hesitate punishing a bad delivery-but that too through placement and guile than power. He would rarely go after 50-50 and good line/length deliveries. Key difference is while a more conventional batsman would block or leave a few good deliveries to get eye in, Bevan would constantly work  the gaps for singles. This way he could maintain high strike rates without the need to go for big shots.

% Runs Scored Through Boundaries: Selected ODI Greats & Bangladeshi Batsmen

Nasir Hossain has a limited yet effective batting technique. He is not blessed with the power, range and timing of some of his other colleagues. His batting is more to do with grit than perfection and finesse. A bottom handed hitter, Nasir preferred mode of scoring is slogging over mid wicket, long on, and slashing hard through point. Sadly this leads to most of dismissals as he lacks the muscle or grace. 63% of his dismissals are getting caught in the outfield most while trying to slog. Another 20% is caught behind by trying to cutting the ball hard.

If Nasir were to reduce his dependency on these two shots and instead focus on rotating the strike like Bevan, he would be a lot harder to dismiss. Fitness, athleticism, agility are some of Nasir’s greatest strengths. Considering this it would be wiser for him to build his innings by running hard between wickets, than playing high risk shots. And as we all know the longer Nasir remains at the wicket, the greater his probability of finishing well for the team.

A modern batsman who has adopted a similar approach is Fawad Alam. Once a bits and pieces all rounder, Fawad has transformed himself into an ODI weapon. His macho new avatar is matched by an unconventional stance, unorthodox hitting, and aggressive running which saps the energy out of fielders. Moin Khan, Jonty Rhodes, Robin Singh are some others who built their innings by hustling and being busy at the wicket.

Planning & Pressure

Failing to plan is planning to fail. This statement seems to make more sense when one watches the Bangladesh batsmen in action. Whether chasing or setting a score, Michael Bevan always had a plan in mind when coming to the crease, and this was executed efficiently. Even if wickets fell around him, or he slowed down he would never deviate from the plan. An analyst once wrote Michael Bevan had a calculator for a brain. He always knew how to pace an innings and finish a game.

Handling pressure was also one of Bevan’s specialties. He thrived in batting with lower order batsmen rescuing the team from precarious situations. He mentioned in an interview “Pressure is the thing that makes people make mistakes and costs matches. I always try to say to myself that we are going to lose some matches. So I never try to put too much pressure on myself.”

From his very first game, Nasir has stood out from his colleagues because of his ability to stay calm and composed. A player who shows little emotion, Nasir does not get flustered or overawed against more illustrious opposition. His performance in Asia Cup 2013 best demonstrated such characteristics. In almost every innings in that tournament he was sent with a plan which he executed well. In the past, even when the best like Mushfiq, Shakib and Tamim capitulated under pressure, Nasir batted with the tail to steer the team to safer waters.

But things have changed in 2014. Lack of runs have badly dented his confidence, fear of being dropped hasn’t help either. The Nasir Hossain who now comes to the pitch seems indecisive, panicky, nervy and prone to playing rash strokes.

The coach and captain must step in and remind Nasir of the game changing knocks he has played in the past. All Nasir needs is a bit of confidence and clarity on the role that is expected of him.

Recovery Road

All good players go through bad phases in their career. The very best learn from those difficult circumstances and come back stronger. Now it is up to Nasir Hossain to realize his limitations, and try to work around them.

Nasir’s best knocks are nothing less or short than the type of knocks Bevan, Dhoni, played for their teams. The ability to play under pressure when the ship is sinking is a rare talent which not everyone possesses. Technical deficiencies are not holding him back, it is simply his approach to the game. The selectors must keep faith in him. Most importantly the captain and coach must clearly clarify the role they expect him to play.

An in form Nasir Hossain will always put Bangladesh into more favorable situations. The lack of a finisher means the Tigers will keep losing from winning positions or rely on the mercy of opposition to create upsets. But with a guy like Nasir, Bangladesh will always be a better and more complete side.

The author is an ardent Bangladeshi cricket fan based out of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He welcomes feedback at jeeshan2000@gmail.com  

Why Chandika Hathurusingha will be a Good Fit for Bangladesh

So the coach hunt is over, and jury has decided. Former Sri Lankan test player Chandika Hathurusingha has been chosen to lead Bangladesh for the next two years starting 1st July. Fans are divided. Many are disappointed Bangladesh couldn’t sign a more high profile coach, while many are happy Bangladesh have abandoned their usual destination Australia to appoint a coach from the sub continent. The last three head coaches Stuart Law, Richard Pybus, and Shane Jurgensn all resigned before their contracts expired citing personal or family reasons or their differences with BCB. Maybe a sub continental coach would be able to adapt better to the culture and politics of Bangladesh. This is just of many reasons why Chandika Hathurusingha might be a good fit for Bangladesh. Here are more.

Capable yet underrated

Chandika Hathurusingha might not have the reputation of a Stuart Law or Pybus or Whatmore but the former Sri Lankan opener has quietly gathered a reputation as a very capable coach.  Chandika started his coaching stint as head coach of the UAE in 2005, followed by a three year contract with Sri Lanka A. He was highly praised for the work he did with the emerging players, many of whom later broke into the national team. Captain Sangakkara and team mate Muralitharan requested his addition to the national team coaching staff based on great feedback from the A team players. Subsequently in 2009, he was appointed as assistant coach of the national team under Trevor Bayliss. Dubbed a “shadow coach”, it was SLC’s intention to groom him for a future head coach role.

Unfortunately he was suspended just a year and a half later on disciplinary grounds; which was then considered highly controversial and the onus rested entirely on the then SLC chief. A Sri Lankan newspaper described it as a “punishment bigger than the crime”. But Sri Lanka’s loss was the gain of others, and perhaps this was a turning point for the 45 year old coach. Immediately after this he became consultant coach for Canada in World Cup 2011. Subsequently he was appointed assistant coach of New South Wales, Australia’s premier state team. After the sacking of NSW’s head coach Anthony Stuart, Hathurusingha was made acting coach for a while.  NSW then appointed Trevor Bayliss as new head coach, and once again Chandika got the opportunity to work with him as an assistant coach. Under the duo, NSW won last season’s Sheffield Shield (first title since 2008) and made semifinals of the limited over Ryobi Cup. He was also named head coach of the Big Bash team Sydney Thunder, the weaker of the two Sydney based teams. His good work with the state and Big Bash team has seen him getting appointed to Australia A as an assistant coach under Troy Cooley.

In his famous letter written by Sangakkara to SLC where he requested for Chandika’s re-appointment, the former captain mentioned a few things worth noting:

“It was a refreshing change to see a local coach whose technical and strategic knowledge was second to none of the foreign coaches I have worked with before.”

“In the last year he has out-worked, out-thought and out-shone the foreign coaching staff within the system.”

BCB has always had a fascination with Australian coaching personnel. The general consensus about sub continental coaches is they don’t possess the same ability as an Australian or South African, and they would not act in the best interest of Bangladesh. His success in Australia contradicts such views. And the fact that he had a world class mentor like Trevor Bayliss on two occasions adds weight to his CV. If one judges him from his playing experience, ten years of coaching experience and the testimonial of Sangakkara, Hathurisngha definitely seems to be a very capable coach. Sydney Thunders have targeted Stephen Fleming or Gary Kirsten to replace Hathurusingha in Big Bash. Gives one the idea of respect they have for the Sri Lankan.

All cound coach

Bangladesh has worked with different types of coaches in the past. Jamie Siddons and Gordon Greenidge were technical coaches with great batting knowledge. Shane Jurgensen, Mohsin Kamal were bowling oriented coaches. Dav Whatmore and Eddie Barlow were more general coaches who looked to motivate and organize the team. After Shane Jurgensen’s resignation the decision was to go for a more batting oriented coach. But in Hathurusingha, Bangladesh have a well versed all round coach.

A compact, steady opening batsman, Hathurusingha has over 10,000 first class runs under his belt and has played 26 tests. Sangakkara claimed his batting technique improved under Hathurusingha. Thilina Kandamby, Upul Tharanga, Tharanga Paranawithana, Angelo Matthews, Samaraweera are some others who improved great deal under him (More on this later) with the bat. Bangladesh’s main strength is the teams batting. But since the departure of Jamie Siddons and Stuart Law, this has been slipping. Key players like Tamim and Nasir Hossain are struggling-a combination of technical glitches and low confidence. All of a sudden batsman who seemed to have the ability to become 35-40 average players are becoming 20-25. So to improve the teams batting, BCB has their man.

But that’s not all! Here comes the bonus. Hathurusingha also has 425 first class wickets. Hathurusingha was not express, rather relied on guile, his ability to move the ball in the air and off the wicket. He was often utilized as a third seamer for Sri Lanka. Sangakkara claimed the bowlers also benefitted from his expertise. Chandika has also been working with several Australian spinners, and also brought four of them to Sri Lanka to gain experience. So one can expect Hathurusingha to contribute to both pacers and spinners. During the beginning of his stint, Jamie Siddons focused primarily on batting and the bowlers clearly lagged behind until the specialist coaches turned up. This should not be the case with the Sri Lankan coach. Expect him to contribute to all departments even without the help of specialist coaches.

The story doesn’t end. So we know Chandika Hathurusingha has the technical knowledge on batting and bowling. But what other qualities does he bring to the table? Here is what Sangakkara had to say

“His greatest influence had been in the way he conditions the team mentally to be prepared to meet and win any and all challenges and his input concerning overall strategy. His approach is always positive and strong.

He accepts no softness or lack of commitment and discipline and he treats all players with an even and fair hand. This has earned him the fullest respect of all the players.

 He is creative in his thinking and is always geared towards winning. This positive outlook has helped us view challenges as tests of skill to be enjoyed.

His calm aura of control has helped at all times to keep calm an excitable dressing room so that decisions are made rationally.”

A level 3 coach (Highest qualification a cricket coach can obtain), Hathurusingha has also been employed by Cricket Australia to train and mentor hundreds of level 2 and 3 coaches.

The all-round capability of Hathurusingha provides Bangladesh a complete package. Tamim Iqbal will benefit from his batting knowledge, Al Amin Hossain can learn how to improve his swing and movement, Sohag Gazi will once again have a mentor. Even aspiring coaches can learn a thing or two from him. The entire team will be under the leadership of a knowledgeable task master who is likely to foster a culture of work ethic and improvement.

A change agent, a great eye  

In the mid 2000’s Thilan Samaraweera was an overly defensive player whose style was only suitable for test cricket. In 2006, after a poor England tour he was dropped from national team and asked to play for the A team which was then coached by Hathurusingha. In a short period of time, Samaraweera was transformed into a complete batsman who was willing score runs from ball one. 17 months later, Samaraweera found his place back in the national team thanks to his new approach. In 2009, he was the second batsman in the world to score 1000 test runs in a calendar year. His changed outlook also helped him break into the ODI team. Samaraweera has ended his career with a test average close to 50. None of this would have happened had it not been for Hathurusingha’s intervention in 2006.

As a youngster Thilina Kandamby was tipped for big things. But Kandamby didn’t believe in himself, lived a lifestyle unsuitable for cricket. He was inconsistent, reckless and all his talent seemed to be going to waste until he met Hathurusingha. First thing Chandika did was implemented a new fitness program, lifestyle guide for the burly left hander. Kandmby lost weight, gained more self belief thanks to his mentor; and slowly worked his way to becoming a consistent player in the domestic arena.

The Sri Lankan coach is reputed for getting under a players skin, talking to them, mentoring them one on one basis, making them believe in themselves and improve every day. In an interview with the newspaper The Nation he stated

“Each of the players has to be tackled differently. Some respond fast and grasp the points quickly others are slow and need to be told several times while there are others where you have to give it to them in writing. Its all about asking questions. When you explore options only you find out how much more you can learn and expand your game. You need to push them to the limit to find out what they have. There is always room for improvement. When I was A team coach it was all about continuous improvement. If it doesnt work out you can always come back to what you have. What I have given them is the confidence and the freedom to improve their game. That way they have grown in confidence. I can only give them options the rest is up to them.”

Hathurusingha also has a great eye for talent. In 2007, three of his A team players he predicted to be future stars were Angelo Mathews, Tharanga Paranavitana and Suranga Lakmal. One of them is now the captain, one test team opener, and the other a promising pace bowler who improves every game. Some other players he had high hopes on were Kaushal Silva (Who recently made it to the test team), Isuru Udana and Welagedara.

Because of his ability to change outlook of players, and identify talent the Nation newspaper labeled Hathrusingha Sri Lanka’s cricketing guru.

The cultural aspect

Anyone who has studied Geert Hofstedes cultural framework in Uni will be able to tell why an Australian or Englishman would not find it easy adapt to the culture of Bangladesh, the board and the players.

There are various aspects to be considered here.

Living in Bangladesh is not easy even for expatriate Bangladeshis. For an Australian coach and his family it can be a nightmare. Coaches who prefer to leave their family behind have to travel and be away from the job for lengthy periods. Bangladesh is a place many Sri Lankans call home these days. Thousands of students, apparel industry workers, mid level managers flock to Dhaka and Chittagong for better opportunities. Many end up enjoying their new home more than their motherland. For Hathurusingha, Bangladesh is unlikely to create much culture shock. Many other Sri Lankan coaches have also worked here serving their full term.

Then there is the aspect of working with BCB which is never easy, and a reason why many foreign coaches did not continue in the past. In fact all sports administration bodies in Bangladesh be it football, hockey fall out with coaching personnel because of a huge cultural gap. Such foreign coaches are simply not used to the bureaucracy, red tape, power games that are intertwined with their  respective sport. But someone like Chandika Hathurusingha should be more familiar of the do’s and don’ts with a sub continental cricket board; already having a bitter experience with SLC.

Most foreign coaches also struggle to comprehend to the attitude, discipline and work ethic of players. A youngster in New Zealand might be more receptive to batting tips, be willing practice harder or longer hours, spent time on own to learn a skill, read a book to learn about strategy or leadership. But in Bangladesh a coach will have to get used to the fact where the most talented player makes the same mistakes (Despite repeated warning) in three consecutive occasions, with no intention to listen or learn. Common sense would suggest a Sri Lankan would be more aware of these cultural differences than someone from Australia or South Africa.

Finally the players must also be able to understand and gel with the coach.  A key concern is many players struggle to comprehend the ideas and wisdom of a foreign coach. This is why Saurav Ganguly was a fan favorite for the role. Besides English, Chandika Hathurusingha speaks a language (Sinhala), which has borrowed extensively from Sanskrit. An average Sri Lankan is able to pick out a few words from a typical Bengali communication.  This could explain how a non English speaking Sri Lankan factory worker can easily slot oneself in the floor of an apparel company. Hathurusingha or any other Sri Lankan coach should not have much difficulty in getting  a grip of the language and better understand the players. Experts say more than 90% of communication is non verbal; expect the Sri Lankan coaches to connect via non verbal communication from session one.

The Australia factor

BCB president Nazmul Hasan claimed Hathurusingha’s coaching experience in Australia was a key factor in his appointment considering next year’s World Cup will be held there. BCB chief is on the dot here. Why not hire an Australian who should know better than someone coaching  there for only a couple of years? Sometimes an outsider has better and more relevant inside knowledge than an insider. Hathurusingha will know the common issues a sub continental player will face in Australia, and will thus be able to better prepare them.

Long term option

Bangladesh needs a long term coach, someone who can stick around for 4-5 years. Every time a coach resigns or is sacked, BCB spends ages looking for a replacement. A new coach needs to come in adjust, learn, familiarize with players. It’s a whole new process which hurts the progress of the game, sometimes even sending it back. Provided there is good working relationship with BCB, Hathurusingha could be a coach for the long term. He has spent adequate time in each of his stints since the beginning of his coaching career. Administrators and fans might also have a worry-what if Sri Lanka tries to lure him back. Truth is at this given point SLC cannot match BCB in terms of finances. They have also chosen Atapattu. Tomorrow Sangakkara or Mahela might raise their hands and becoming a coaching candidate.

Having been a shadow coach, Hathurusingha might even be open to working with a local coach and ensure there is succession planning.

The Sri Lanka way

When Bangladesh started playing test cricket, Australia was the dominant force in world cricket, with quite a bit of gap from the next top teams. It was natural for any aspiring cricketing nation to see them as a model for development. Although Bangladesh has borrowed many ideas from down under, now a decade and a half later they are still nowhere in terms of a concrete sporting strategic direction. Replicating a sporting model based on Australia would never be easy considering the gaps that exist in infrastructure, facilities, domestic cricket, funds, coaching personnel/institutions and so on. So maybe it is time to question who we should look up to and learn from, taking our own context into consideration.

Sri Lanka’s progress in world cricket is very impressive. They do not possess the infrastructure or cash of ECB or Cricket Australia. They don’t have the talent base or sheer volume of cricketers that India and Pakistan enjoy. Financially and infrastructure wise, they are behind Bangladesh. They are never hot favorites in tournaments. Yet time and time again this tiny island nation keeps outperforming their more illustrious opposition in all formats of the game. How do they do it? In the movie The Patriot, Benjamin Martin (Mel Gibson) advised his young son on the secrets of shooting “Aim small, miss small.” There is a lesson to be learned here. Sri Lanka does not possess a high performance academy like Australia’s. They do not possess a high budget MRF type academy. But whatever they do, even if in small scale, they do it well. They focus scarce resources and time on the 20% which produces 80% of the outcome. Perhaps, appointment of Chandika Hathurusingha is a step in that direction.

The road ahead

BCB deserves a lot of credit for convincing Hathurusingha to leave his flourishing job in Australia. They deserve credit for willing to change from their conventional thinking. And unlike previous occasions the appointment has been done in a fairly quick time with little drama. Great work BCB. But the job is not done yet. The next part is the hardest, which is building a good relationship with the new coach.

BCB must be willing to listen to Hathurusingha, and make him a key agent in the development of the game in the country. Even the best and most knowledgeable coach of the world won’t be able to achieve anything more than intermittent success unless, BCB is willing to cooperate and help him translate his ideas into action.

Fans must also be patient. Success won’t be immediate. Players will need to adjust to the way of the coach, the coach needs time to get the best out of his players. Finally players must be open minded, and be willing to learn and work hard.

Exciting days ahead for Bangladeshi cricket!

About the author(s): The writer is an ardent Bangladeshi cricket follower based out of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He is known on the forum as jeesh and he welcomes feedback/comments at jeeshan2000@gmail.com