The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) Women’s Wing is awaiting David Hemp’s arrival before finalising a major shake-up of the Bangladesh women’s team coaching staff. Hemp is set to replace veteran coach Sarwar Imran as head coach ahead of the Tigresses’ three-match ODI series against Australia.
Hemp, who previously served as the head of the BCB High Performance programme and also worked with the women’s team as a batting coach, is expected to join the national side before the series.
According to a team source, the BCB is currently waiting for Hemp to join before deciding on the composition of the rest of the coaching staff.
“Hemp is expected to join the team before the Australia tour. Current head coach Sarwar Imran has one more month remaining on his contract,” the source told TIMES on condition of anonymity.
The source also indicated that Hemp will have a significant say in determining the new coaching structure, with the board expected to discuss the roles and responsibilities of the existing support staff with the incoming head coach.
“At the moment, we are waiting for Hemp to join. After discussing with him, we will finalise the coaching staff,” the source said.
Nasiruddin Faruque Shojib is currently serving as the batting coach, while Alamgir Kabir is the bowling coach. However, both the batting department and the wider support structure could see changes as the BCB looks to address the team’s recent shortcomings.
Bangladesh have struggled particularly with the bat in their two most recent major assignments. The Tigresses failed to reach the final of both the Asia Cup and the Asian Games after losing to India in the semi-finals on each occasion.
The latest setback came on Sunday in the Asian Games semi-final, where Bangladesh were bowled out for just 81 while chasing India’s 196. The defeat followed a 40-run loss to the same opposition in the Asia Cup semi-final, leaving the team under renewed scrutiny over their batting performances.
It is understood that the batting coaching position is likely to be changed following those results. Another source, however, suggested that Hemp himself could take charge of the batting department alongside his head-coaching responsibilities.
No final decision has been made yet, with the BCB waiting for Hemp to formally join the team before settling the coaching structure. His familiarity with the players could be a factor in the board’s consideration, as Hemp recently worked with the Bangladesh women’s team as batting coach during their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier campaign in Nepal.
The 55-year-old has been closely involved with Bangladesh cricket since joining the BCB’s High Performance programme in 2023. He previously served as head coach of Pakistan women from 2020 to 2022 and also worked with Victoria Women and Melbourne Stars in the Women’s Big Bash League.
The Australia tour will provide Hemp with an immediate challenge as Bangladesh look to regroup following their recent disappointments. The three-match ODI series, scheduled to be held in Brisbane on October 9, 11 and 14, will also be an important test for the new coaching structure and the team’s ability to address their batting problems.
BCB Women’s Wing chairman Rafiqul Islam Babu was also approached over the phone for his comments on the expected changes to the coaching setup. However, he could not be reached.
