SridharanSriram, who had recently served as the T20I technical consultant of the Bangladesh team, is unlikely to return to the set-up. Since the appointment of ChandikaHathurusingha as the head coach across formats, it was unclear whether Sriram would be included in the Bangladesh team management and now, the chances of his return to the team is “very little”, according the Jalal Yunus, the BCB cricket operations chairman.
Sriram, who replaced Russell Domingo in the shortest format ahead of the Asia Cup T20 last year, was also with the team during the T20 WC. He was also in charge for the T20I series against the UAE and a tri-series involving Pakistan and New Zealand.
Bangladesh played 13 T20Is under Sriram where they won four and lost the remaining nine matches. Bangladesh were finally able to break their T20 WC main event losing streak under Sriram as they beat the Netherlands and Zimbabwe in the Super 12 stage.
Sriram came to Bangladesh during the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League to sit with the BCB high-ups to have a clear picture about his role in the coming days. But it is learnt that the BCB were not keen with the idea of a split-coaching policy, and were looking to appoint a new head coach – a role that eventually went to Hathurusingha who had served in a similar capacity previously.
Many believed that Sriram might join the Bangladesh set-up as the assistant coach of Hathurusingha but Yunus cleared the air about Sriram’s future by revealing that he is not available as well as not interested with the new terms. “Sriram’s chance (of returning in the Bangladesh national team) is very little because he is not available. Mainly he is not interested in BCB’s terms.”
Bangladesh is looking for an assistant coach who can double up as the head coach when Hathurusingha is not available. Yunus said the possibility of appointing an assistant before the limited-overs series against England looks slim. “The assistant coach will be batting oriented but before the England series the chance of getting an assistant coach is very slim.” Bangladesh unlikely to play T20I series against Ireland
Meanwhile, Yunus added that they are unlikely to play three T20Is, which was originally part of the schedule in May. Cricbuzz had earlier reported that the three games could be hosted in England’s Chelmsford along with the three ODIs but according to Yunus, Cricket Ireland could not arrange the venues for the T20I series.
“Ireland could not arrange the venues so the T20Is might not be played but the three ODIs will be played in England and that is confirmed,” Yunus said.
