BCB brings in Sriram to shake up T20 mindset

Bangladesh Cricket Board is currently in limbo regarding the head coach position of the national team for Twenty20 Internationals as they are looking for a new mindset starting from the upcoming Asia Cup.

In this process, they have appointed Sridharan Sriram as the technical consultant for the T20 team starting from the Asia Cup and until the T20 World Cup later this year.

Bangladesh have won just two of their eight matches starting this year, but they are looking to turn it around from the Asian tournament, starting on August 27.

The first move BCB made was to appoint Shakib Al Hasan captain of the shortest format and bring Sabbir Rahman back.

Now, they are looking to change things up in the team management as they are thinking of having a different head coach for T20Is.

BCB President Nazmul Hassan informed the media on Sunday that they were trying to split the team management for different formats.

“T20I is a completely different thing. And that is why we want to separate things. If we can, we will split the coaching staff. But we cannot say anything at the moment. Let us decide on who to appoint,” he said.

The board president implied its necessity as the team was severely underperforming in the format.

“We have to shake up the team’s mindset. We have taken the first step by appointing a new captain, who will change the thought process. In addition, if we can change up the coaching staff and provide some new ideas, I think there’s a chance to do well,” Nazmul told the media.

Trying to change the mindset, Sriram has been brought in by BCB to help the team evolve in the upcoming months.

Sriram previously worked with the Australia national team as their spin-bowling coach for six years and has also worked with the Indian Premier League sides Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils.

Regarding his appointment as the technical consultant, Sriram said, “I bring with me twenty-five years of cricketing experience and nine years of coaching at an elite level. I am really looking forward to working with the Bangladesh players.

“I believe Bangladesh has huge potential in white ball cricket and the very thought of being involved with such a talented group of players at two high-profile events excites me.”

Reports suggested that Sriram would be brought in as the new T20 head coach, but the BCB president denied it.

“Sriram is not coming to be the head coach; he will be the technical consultant till the T20 World Cup. We have taken this decision based on many factors. One of them is that he worked with an IPL side. Another reason is that the World Cup is in Australia, where he worked for a long time,” Nazmul told the media.

But the BCB president left some clues regarding Sriram being the new head coach of the T20 side as he said that current head coach Russell Domingo will look after the ODI and Test team.

“He (Domingo) will stay for ODIs and Tests. We have said that we want to split roles. And the number of matches we have to play, it’s impossible for Domingo to travel. There are matters of his leave too. The matter is not easy,” Nazmul said on Friday.

BCB have almost no time in their hands to sort out the matter as the Asia Cup begins in one week, with Bangladesh playing their first match on August 30.

Nazmul said that they would arrange a meeting on Monday where the final decision would be taken.

“We will meet on August 22 with all parties involved and then decide. I have previously said that there will be changes. Not one or two, but we are thinking long-term regarding these changes,” he said.