Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has sidelined batting coach Nasiruddin Faruque Shojib and team manager SM Golam Faiyaz as part of a major reshuffle of the women’s national team management.
The changes follow Bangladesh’s disappointing Asia Cup and Asian Games campaigns. Head coach Sarwar Imran is also set to leave when his contract expires next month, with David Hemp already named as his successor.
TIMES has obtained the government order (GO) for the upcoming Australia tour, which lists 20 players and nine coaching and support staff. Shojib and Faiyaz are absent from the approved list.
Hemp will take charge of the team in Australia and is also expected to oversee the batting department. Women’s wing in-charge Bulbul Bashar will serve as team manager.
Pace bowling coach Alamgir Kabir, spin bowling coach Humayun Kabir, physiotherapist Suraiya Akter, performance analyst Rashed Iqbal and strength and conditioning coach Sajib Dutta will also travel with the team.
Shojib’s removal follows Bangladesh’s batting struggles in recent tournaments. The team found it difficult to post competitive totals in the Asia Cup before being bowled out for 81 while chasing 196 against India in the Asian Games semi-final.
Sarwar’s departure also comes amid tension following the Asian Games. After Bangladesh’s 31-run defeat to Pakistan in the bronze medal match, women’s wing chairman Rafiqul Islam Babu told TIMES that the BCB would issue him a show-cause notice over his comments during the tournament.
Faiyaz, meanwhile, faced allegations of inappropriate remarks, bullying and mental harassment during his tenure. The allegations had been discussed within the women’s cricket setup.
The BCB is now set to review the wider issues surrounding the team. A meeting on the investigations and future pathway, initially planned for Saturday, has been moved to Monday.
The Australia tour will mark the start of the new management setup. Bangladesh will play three ODIs in Brisbane on October 9, 11 and 14.
