Siddons accepts offer
Monday, 29 October 2007
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) ensured former Australian Assistant Coach Jamie Siddons as the national team coach after his acceptance of the offer, reports UNB.
"I am thrilled to announce that I have accepted an offer from the BCB to coach the Bangladesh National Team," Siddons said in a message to the BCB.
Jamie Siddons will arrive in the city Monday by Thai Airways to finalise his employment contract and for discussions with the BCB about his new responsibilities as coach of Bangladesh.
With Siddons confirmed as Whatmore's successor, the BCB met the October 30 deadline in appointing the national coach.
Siddons, who was earlier in the shortlist with former Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton and Australian John Harmer, at one stage withdrew his name from the candidature.
But later he had a conversation in India, during the 7-match series between Australia and India, with BCB's Cricket Operations Committee chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, also a member of the five-member panel tasked with the appointment of national coach.
After the series against India, the Australian returned home and informed his decision to the BCB that he is now ready to accept the offer. After getting the green signal from him, the country's apex cricket body announced Siddon's name.
"We all want to see Bangladesh's progress in the coming days. We've a firm belief that he (Siddons) can take Bangladesh to our desirable position during his stint with the side," said Lipu.
The national team has been without a full-time coach after Dav Whatmore stepped down following a successful World Cup campaign in April. Whatmore also acted in an interim capacity for Bangladesh's home series against India in May.
Since then, Bangladesh had been looking for a full-time coach but their efforts received jolts several times. First, they received a setback from Jamie Siddons and Dave Houghton after veteran Harmer made his presentation.
The same thing happened again as hot favourite John Dyson handed the BCB another blow refusing to be Bangladesh coach while former West Indies international Gordon Greenidge conveyed his inability to take the charge for a long term.
"I am thrilled to announce that I have accepted an offer from the BCB to coach the Bangladesh National Team," Siddons said in a message to the BCB.
Jamie Siddons will arrive in the city Monday by Thai Airways to finalise his employment contract and for discussions with the BCB about his new responsibilities as coach of Bangladesh.
With Siddons confirmed as Whatmore's successor, the BCB met the October 30 deadline in appointing the national coach.
Siddons, who was earlier in the shortlist with former Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton and Australian John Harmer, at one stage withdrew his name from the candidature.
But later he had a conversation in India, during the 7-match series between Australia and India, with BCB's Cricket Operations Committee chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, also a member of the five-member panel tasked with the appointment of national coach.
After the series against India, the Australian returned home and informed his decision to the BCB that he is now ready to accept the offer. After getting the green signal from him, the country's apex cricket body announced Siddon's name.
"We all want to see Bangladesh's progress in the coming days. We've a firm belief that he (Siddons) can take Bangladesh to our desirable position during his stint with the side," said Lipu.
The national team has been without a full-time coach after Dav Whatmore stepped down following a successful World Cup campaign in April. Whatmore also acted in an interim capacity for Bangladesh's home series against India in May.
Since then, Bangladesh had been looking for a full-time coach but their efforts received jolts several times. First, they received a setback from Jamie Siddons and Dave Houghton after veteran Harmer made his presentation.
The same thing happened again as hot favourite John Dyson handed the BCB another blow refusing to be Bangladesh coach while former West Indies international Gordon Greenidge conveyed his inability to take the charge for a long term.