New Bangladesh bowling coach Walsh to reach Dhaka on Saturday

Dhaka, Sep 2 (IANS) Newly-assigned Bangladesh bowling coach Cortney Walsh will arrive in the country on Saturday night.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and its West Indian counterpart on Thursday confirmed the appointment of the Caribbean great as Bangaldesh's pace bowling mentor until the 2019 World Cup, reports bdnews24.com.

On his return from Singapore on Friday morning, BCB President Nazmul Hassan was speaking to reporters at Shahjalal International Airport.

"We were looking for a fast bowling coach. We spoke to three persons but Walsh was our first choice," Hassan said.

"Though he has no experience in coaching national teams, a legend like him is not always available."

"We are hoping he will arrive in Dhaka on Saturday night. I think he is going to be an excellent inclusion for our pace bowling."

Boasting a tally of 519 Test wickets, the 53-year-old former West Indies captain is the first bowler to reach the landmark haul of 500 wickets in the longest format of cricket.

Walsh's bowling partnership with Curtly Ambrose during their playing days remains a legend in the annals of world cricket.

The BCB president said Walsh's technical abilities were key to his selection as Bangladesh coach.

"He is a mentor. According to the information we have, what's bigger than his coaching inexperience is that he is technically very sound."

"He knows what to do. Time will tell how much he can give our boys now and how much they can take."

Walsh is the second West Indian to join Bangladesh's coaching staff after Gordon Greenidge, who guided Bangladesh to the 1999 World Cup after winning the 1997 International Cricket Council (ICC) Trophy.

Walsh was very excited over the Bangladesh job.

"I'm thrilled to be joining the BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) as their specialist bowling coach. Having watched the Bangladesh cricket from afar over the years, they are a seriously talented bunch of players," he said on Thursday.

Bangladesh had been without a pace bowling coach since late May this year when Heath Streak announced he would not be renewing his contract.

--IANS

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