Bangladesh appoints Mohammad Salahuddin as senior assistant coach

Mohammad Salahuddin has been named the senior assistant coach of the Bangladesh men's team by the BCB. His contract will be in effect until March 15 of the following year, mirroring head coach Phil Simmons' contract duration. Salahuddin is expected to kick off his coaching duties with Bangladesh's upcoming tour of the West Indies. The tour commences with a four-day warm-up match in Antigua.

Salahuddin has previously served as Bangladesh's assistant and fielding coach under Dav Whatmore and Jamie Siddons. He also worked as a specialist coach in the BCB's national cricket academy from 2010 to 2011 before becoming Singapore's head coach in 2014. He holds an ACC-Cricket Australia Level 3 accreditation.

Regarded as one of the foremost cricketing voices in Bangladesh, Salahuddin has had a contentious relationship with the BCB in recent years. He was appointed as a batting consultant in 2017 only for them to change their decision at the last minute. He has often been critical of the board's position with respect to pitches and selection.

Salahuddin is also regarded highly by most players in Bangladesh, having started his coaching by developing the likes of Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal when they were young. He is also influential in the growth of the current crop of cricketers like Jaker Ali and Mahidul Islam Ankon.

BCB president Faruque Ahmed said Salahuddin ticked a number of boxes for the role. In his first press conference as the board chief, Faruque had said that he was in favour of promoting Bangladeshi coaches.

"When I took over as BCB president, I made a commitment to provide opportunities for deserving candidates to contribute to the national team set-up," he said. "Salahuddin brings with him a wealth of experience, pedigree, and knowledge, making him the ideal candidate for this role. I firmly believe it is time to integrate more capable Bangladeshi coaches into the system."