Bangladesh once had a batter who averaged 41.60 in Tests in Australia, facing a fearsome attack that included Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Stuart MacGill. He showed class, sound technique and real promise. Yet his international career lasted less than three years.
While he could not shape Bangladesh cricket for long with the bat, he has helped shape it from the dressing room. Over the years, he has quietly built a reputation as one of the country’s most successful coaches.
That man is Hannan Sarkar. He recently completed a domestic double, winning the Dhaka Premier League 2025 with Abahani Limited and the Bangladesh Premier League 2026 with Rajshahi Warriors. Speaking to Daily Times of Bangladesh, Sarkar shared his thoughts on the triumph, domestic cricket and player development.
You just won the domestic double. Your BPL auction strategy drew praise. You clearly planned well.
Preparation before an auction or draft is basic. Everyone does homework in their own way. I did nothing special beyond that. Our planning worked, and we got the result.
Among the youngsters in the Rajshahi Warriors squad, who could shine for Bangladesh in future?
Some players performed because they got chances, while others could not play despite having potential. In the BPL, my focus was only on building a winning combination for Rajshahi according to conditions, not on national team planning.
Jishan Alam is a future prospect, but we could not play him. Leg-spinner Wasi Siddique also missed out. Akbar Ali played, won Player of the Match, but we later left him out after a game.
Among those who played, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain showed promise. It was his first BPL, so the platform was new. One good tournament is not enough to judge a player. If he performs consistently over the next two or three seasons, then we can properly assess him. Because next time, opponents will plan better against him.
Is domestic cricket stronger now than five years ago?
First-class cricket and the National Cricket League have improved. I saw this closely during my time as a selector. The changes are positive.
In the Dhaka Premier League, competitiveness was once lacking. Earlier, people assumed one team would easily win. Last season, three teams were in the title race until the end, with two other teams close behind. The standard has improved, though there is still room to grow.
What should the BCB do to improve standards further, especially in T20 cricket?
I think our T20 cricket is on the right track. Over the last year, Bangladesh’s T20 results were not bad. My concern is ODI cricket. That used to be our strongest format, but we have struggled recently. It needs proper review and planning now.
Will Rajshahi Warriors play the Global Super League 2026?
The owners are very positive and interested. But it depends on the organisers as well. The team is in communication with the board. I cannot say yet whether I will be involved, but the franchise wants to participate.
You were known as a technically sound batter and still hold Bangladesh’s best Test record in Australia.
Bangladesh toured Australia only once, in 2003. Since I scored runs in that series, naturally I remain the highest scorer there (smiles). When Bangladesh tours again in 2027, I am sure someone will score a hundred or even two and break that record.
Many talented players fail to stay long in the national team. How can Bangladesh retain and use such talent of the Hannans of this era?
Strong international teams always have strong domestic structures behind them. More competitions at domestic level create tougher battles among players, which helps the national side.
Not everyone can play in the national team. If six players compete for two middle-order spots, only two can play even if all perform well. The others must still stay motivated.
To keep them engaged, we need better financial support, clearer communication and more development camps. We cannot drop them completely, nor can we play all of them at once. But we must keep them motivated so they continue performing in domestic cricket. If domestic cricket develops, international cricket will improve automatically.
Though his time as an international batter was short, Hannan Sarkar is now leaving a deeper mark as a coach. With recent titles and a strong focus on domestic growth, he continues to shape Bangladesh cricket from the sidelines.
