Bangladesh impressed with Harmer

The formal process of appointing Bangladesh's new coach has commenced with John Harmer making his presentation to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) officials. The panel members were impressed with Harmer's knowledge of bowling and bio-mechanics and said that the formal appointment would have to wait till next month once the remaining candidates are interviewed.

"His knowledge of the game, error detection, and expertise on bowling impressed us," Gazi Ashraf Hossain, a panel member was quoted in the Daily Star. "However, it is too early to detail the outcome because we have just started the process."

Hossain said that Harmer would conduct a training session on Saturday with the contracted players not included in the squad for the Twenty20 World Championship, at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

Bangladesh are hoping to complete the process ahead of the tour of New Zealand in December. Zimbabwean Dave Houghton and Australian Jamie Siddons are the other two candidates. The team is currently under coach Shaun Williams, filling in on a temporary basis through the World Championship later this month.

"David Houghton is likely to make his presentation in September and we can only give you a clear picture after the interview ends," Hossain said. "But we must do it before the New Zealand tour in December."

Harmer, the former England women's coach, expressed satisfaction after the meeting said - if appointed - his aim would be to improve Bangladesh's world ranking, taking it one step at a time.

"It was a very good meeting where we had a lot of discussions and negotiations," Harmer said. "I want to make the team a little better than what they are at the moment, if I got the job. Bangladesh is a leading international side, ranked eighth after the World Cup and I will try to make them number seven at first."