October 11, 2024

Tamim Iqbal: Local Coaches Should Be Given Time to Take on Top Roles

Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal expressed his views on Wednesday regarding the current state of local coaches, stating that he does not believe they are ready to assume the role of national head coach. However, he emphasized the importance of involving local coaches in supporting the national team. This perspective highlights a desire for collaboration while acknowledging the need for further development among local coaching staff.

Tamim’s comments come at a time when current head coach Chandika Hathurusingha is facing scrutiny due to the team’s disappointing performance during their ongoing tour of India. Bangladesh suffered a defeat in the second Test, despite having two days of play lost to rain. This has intensified discussions about the coaching situation and the team’s direction moving forward.

Since Faruque Ahmed took over as president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), there has been significant speculation regarding Hathurusingha’s future with the team. Their complex history adds to the tension; Faruque previously resigned after the BCB decided to implement a two-tier selection panel, which many believed was influenced by Hathurusingha. In light of these developments, several local coaches, including Mohammad Salahuddin and Sohel Islam, who currently heads the Bangladesh Tigers program, have been mentioned as potential replacements.

“I personally don’t think any local coach is ready to become national team’s head coach. I also said that there are three- four coaches who are ready to become an assistant coach. When someone is to become a captain, we tell him to play a bit more, then he will become the captain. That’s exactly the same for the coaches,” Tamim told reporters at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday.

“There are a few of them who are very much capable of doing assistant coach’s job. If they work there for 2-3 years, they will be capable of becoming Bangladesh’s head coach. That’s what I meant. I don’t think at the moment, anybody is ready,” said Tamim.

“It’s tough for me to predict how challenging that will be. I don’t think I should make a statement on this. What I think is T20 is not the only format, there are Test and ODIs. How many of our senior coaches are active in four-day cricket in national league? Maybe we can tell one or two names, but if you think in general, the coaches need to be experienced just like the players. Yes they are capable, many players rely on local coaches these days,” he said.

“I myself relied on them [local coaches] too whenever I had any problems but head coach is a very different thing. If they are with the setup I think it will be good if there is a 70:30 ratio in coaching panel,” he said.

“If they are with the team for two years, then they will have the experience and then why not? Someone from Bangladesh has to become the head coach at some point,” he said.

Before the Pakistan tour, the red-ball cricketers underwent an extensive training camp led by Sohel Islam. Many believe that this preparation significantly contributed to their historic Test series victory over their Asian rivals.

“I had an opportunity to work with him [Sohel] and what I can say is he is the most improved coach in the last 10 years, and currently the best coach in the country. 100 percent. You will see, Babul bhai and Sohel bhaihave been with our cricket for the last 10-15 years,” said Tamim.

“I think Sohel bhai actually does the most important job at this moment more than the head coach. From that players come ready to play for the national team”.

“And he is actually very capable. We don’t talk about him a lot. But 60-70% of the players, they all go to him now. Because he has built that trust over the years,” he added.

Read More: Root and Brook lead England’s charge in a batting fest

Joe Root: England’s Top Cricketer

On Day 3 of the Multan Test, several batting records fell, but the most noteworthy was Joe Root surpassing Alastair Cook to become England’s all-time leading run-scorer in Test match history. Root’s achievement marks a significant milestone in his career and for English cricket.

With this accomplishment, Root has now amassed 12,473 runs, moving past Cook’s total of 12,472 runs. He has reached this impressive figure in just 268 innings, while Cook required 291 innings to achieve his record. This places Root fifth on the all-time list of Test run-scorers.

Root’s remarkable consistency and skill have cemented his status as one of the game’s greats, and this record only adds to his legacy in the sport.

Check out: West Indies eye Bangladesh scalp to boost semifinal hopes

Holders of the England record for most Test runs (Post World War II)

Later in the day, Joe Root achieved his 35th Test century, surpassing legendary players such as Sunil Gavaskar, Brian Lara, Mahela Jayawardene, and Younis Khan, who all have 34 Test hundreds. With this milestone, Root now ranks among the top players in terms of Test centuries, with only five cricketers having scored more than him.

Most hundreds in Test cricket

Joe Root ended the day unbeaten on 176 runs, marking his 15th innings of 150 or more in Test matches. This also represents his 14th century scored away from home, which ties him with Ken Barrington for the second-most overseas centuries by an England player. Only Alastair Cook, with 18, has more overseas hundreds in Test cricket.

Throughout his career, Root has scored a Test century in every country where he has played at least four matches, with the exception of Australia, where he has played 14 Tests without reaching a hundred. This century is his 18th since the start of 2021, compared to 17 centuries scored from his debut until the end of 2020.

In 2024, Root has already accumulated 1,162 Test runs, including five centuries. This achievement marks the fifth time he has scored over 1,000 runs in a calendar year in Test cricket. Only Sachin Tendulkar, who accomplished this feat in six different years, surpasses Root in this regard. Additionally, this is the third time Root has scored five or more centuries in a single calendar year.

Five or more Test hundreds in most calendar years

Joe Root was instrumental in England’s innings, participating in three partnerships that exceeded 100 runs each for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th wickets. This marks the 11th time an England player has been involved in three century stands within a single innings. Notably, Root is the second player to achieve this feat twice, following in the footsteps of Alastair Cook.

Harry Brook in Pakistan

Harry Brook finished the day unbeaten on 141 runs, marking his sixth Test century. Remarkably, four of these centuries have come in four consecutive Tests played in Pakistan, where he has scored an impressive total of 609 runs in just six innings, averaging 121.8.

Read More: Milestone Man Root Drives England’s Momentum

Hundreds in most consecutive Tests against Pakistan

Brook is the first batter to score a century in four consecutive Tests played on Pakistani soil. While ten other players have achieved the feat of scoring three centuries in three Tests in Pakistan, Brook’s accomplishment stands out as unique.

Most Test 100s in Pakistan by a visiting batter

The unbeaten 243-run partnership between Joe Root and Harry Brook is now the highest partnership for England for any wicket on Pakistani soil, surpassing the previous record of 233 runs set by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett for the first wicket at Rawalpindi in 2022.

This partnership is also the highest for the 4th wicket for England against Pakistan, eclipsing the 233 runs scored by Alastair Cook and Paul Collingwood at Lord’s in 2006. Overall, it ranks as the fifth-highest partnership for any wicket for England against Pakistan.

England’s total of 396 runs scored on Day 3 is the third-most by a team in a full day’s play in Pakistan, with only two wickets falling during the day. Notably, Day 2 of the 2001 Multan Test saw even fewer wickets fall in a day’s play in Pakistan.

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