For cricketers whose opportunities at the top level are limited or whose playing careers have already moved beyond that stage, the BCB’s latest Level-1 coaching course offers a way to secure their future in the game in different roles.
For many participants, the course is more than a coaching qualification. It is an opportunity to build a second career with cricket and gain greater security when their playing days come to an end.
The five-day course, organised by the BCB Game Development Department, started Saturday with 32 current and former first-class cricketers taking part. BCB coaches Mohammad Salahuddin, Sohel Islam and Naveed Nawaz are conducting the sessions.
Former Bangladesh internationals Arafat Sunny, Mahmudullah Riyad, Kamrul Islam Rabbi and Fazle Rabbi are among the participants, with many of the participants still active in domestic cricket.
Right-arm pacer Kamrul Islam Rabbi, who played seven Tests for Bangladesh, believes the course could help him remain involved in the game after retirement.
“I think this is a very good course, and we will benefit a lot from it,” Rabbi told TIMES of Bangladesh before attending another session with Naveed Nawaz at the BCB indoor facility on Sunday.
Rabbi expects to continue playing for another three or four years but sees the knowledge gained from the course as an investment in his future.
“I believe the knowledge I gain from this course will also be useful during my playing career. Even after that, if I decide to work in any area of sports, not necessarily as a coach but in any capacity related to sports,” he said.
“The main reason I took the course is to learn more. Level One provides a strong foundation in cricket, and understanding the fundamentals is very important,” he added.
A BCB coach conducting one of the courses believes the involvement of current and former cricketers could also benefit Bangladesh cricket.
“It is encouraging to see established players showing interest in coaching. Their playing experience, combined with coaching knowledge, could greatly benefit Bangladesh,” the coach told TIMES on condition of anonymity.
The course covers coaching fundamentals, biomechanics, planning and programming, skill acquisition, team planning, evaluating a player’s technique and correcting technical flaws.
For players such as Arafat Sunny, Kamrul Rabbi and Fazle Rabbi, who are still playing in the National Cricket League, it can contribute to their development as players.
“It is excellent for their development. The course enhances their cricketing knowledge, helping them improve their own game and support their teammates,” the coach said.
The growing participation of active cricketers also reflects a changing attitude towards coaching as a post-playing career.
“It used to happen before, but perhaps it received less publicity. Today, coaching is a respected and established profession. It offers a solid career path with better financial prospects than before, which naturally attracts more players to consider it,” the coach said.
The initiative follows BCB Level 2 and Level 3 coaching courses held earlier this year. The Level 2 course, held from July 15 to 20 at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, was led by ICC Level 3 Master Educator and former Nepal international Binod Kumar Das and featured 32 participants.
A Level 3 course was also held, with former Bangladesh players Shahriar Nafees, Abdur Razzak, Rajin Saleh and Hannan Sarkar among the 30 participants who successfully completed it.
A BCB Game Development official said the latest course is intended to help players prepare for the next phase of their careers.
“If they decide to move into coaching after retiring from playing, they will already have advanced training and be better prepared for that career,” he added.
