A staggering 180 of 218 applicants failed the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) district level coaching examinations, leaving only 38 successful candidates for 61 available positions, with basic knowledge gaps, an English language barrier and insufficient pre-exam instructions all emerging as key hurdles.
The examinations were assessed by a technical committee comprising High Performance Unit head Mohammad Salahuddin, Sohel Islam and Mizanur Rahman Babul. The BCB held the tests on 23 and 24 July, with a written paper on the first day followed by a practical examination on the second. Of the 61 positions on offer, 59 were for district level coaches and two for Dhaka Metropolitan.
A source within the BCB told TIMES of Bangladesh that most candidates struggled to answer questions set by the board’s Game Development Committee. The 40 mark written paper was divided into three sections, with 20 marks allocated to basic cricket coaching knowledge, 10 marks to preparing a four week micro plan for a cricketer and the remaining 10 marks to preparing a day plan for a batter and a bowler. Most candidates failed to meet the required standard across both the written and practical stages.
English also proved to be a factor, with some candidates struggling to understand the questions even though they were permitted to answer in Bangla. The BCB has since extended the application deadline to 30 July in order to invite more coaches to sit the examination and fill the remaining vacancies, positions intended to strengthen grassroots cricket. Some candidates, however, have claimed they were not given adequate instructions ahead of the test.
Reflecting on the basic knowledge shown by local coaches, a former Bangladesh captain told TIMES on condition of anonymity that the issue went beyond simple preparation. “Of course, basic knowledge is important, but that is not the only issue. First, you need to know whether you are familiar with the question being asked, whether you understand the subject and what the question actually means.”
The BCB’s criteria required candidates to hold either a Level 1 coaching certificate or first class cricket experience, yet many failed to meet either requirement. “There were many experienced sportsmen and first class players among the candidates. They should know these things,” the former captain said.
A BCB bowling coach, speaking separately and also on condition of anonymity, said the board should have communicated more clearly before the examination. “When the BCB announced the examination, it needed to provide completely clear information so candidates could prepare properly. Many grassroots coaches left formal education 20 years ago or have been out of the education system for a long time. But an examination requires some preparation to understand the subject matter.”
Language emerged as a recurring theme. Earlier this month, ICC coach educator and former Nepal international Binod Kumar said following a six day Level 2 coaching workshop that English had made it difficult to teach some coaches effectively.
The same BCB bowling coach argued that the examination format itself posed a challenge for many candidates. “The coaching issue itself has been a complete disaster. Many of these coaches have been out of formal education for years and are simply unfamiliar with the examination system,” he said. “The questions were in English, although they could answer in Bangla. But if you do not fully understand the question, translating it in your head may help you grasp the general idea without understanding exactly what you are being asked to do.”
The same coach also pointed to a wider consequence of the exam’s introduction, one that extends beyond pass rates and into how coaches are perceived by the young players they train. “But there’s one thing. Now that this course has opened up, coaches are failing it. Before, they used to get respect from the kids, but now there’s going to be trouble with that. A message will go out that he himself failed, so what will he teach! It will take time to bring that respect back. Yet some of these very people have produced national players, brother. Yes, some have been selectively picked out.”
