Former Bangladesh national team selector Hannan Sarker is set to return to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), this time in a new capacity, as a coach. The ex-international, who played 17 Tests and 20 ODIs for Bangladesh, had previously served as a selector for nine years across both youth and senior national teams before stepping down in February to pursue a coaching career.
Just four months after resigning, Sarker will begin his new chapter in June as the head coach of the Bangladesh Under-17 team. He confirmed the development in a video posted on his official Facebook page on Saturday night, stating that his decision was motivated by a desire to contribute more directly to the country’s cricket through coaching.
“Stepping down from the selector’s role was all about giving full focus to coaching and making a meaningful contribution to Bangladesh cricket,” Sarker explained in the video. “That’s why I started with coaching in the Dhaka Premier League.”
Sarker enjoyed immediate success in his coaching debut, guiding the storied Abahani Limited to the championship in the recently concluded Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL). Reflecting on his journey, he said: “I won the title with Abahani and then began discussions with the BCB about joining in a coaching role — either with the High Performance (HP) Unit or elsewhere. Since other coaches are currently working with the HP Unit, the board decided to utilise me in age-level cricket, which I also felt was the right platform to contribute.”
Sarker, 42, replaces his selector’s hat with a coaching cap at a time when Bangladesh cricket is increasingly focusing on nurturing young talent. With a proven track record already at club level, expectations will be high as he takes charge of developing the next generation.
Interestingly, the former opener will not continue with Abahani next season, having opted instead to join fellow DPL powerhouse Legends of Rupganj. This shift highlights his growing profile in the domestic coaching circuit and his ambition to leave a lasting impact on the game in Bangladesh.
As he prepares to take the reins of the U-17 team, Hannan Sarker’s return to the BCB signals not only a personal evolution but also a renewed commitment to shaping the future of Bangladeshi cricket from the grassroots.