Bangladesh signs accord with Australia

DHAKA - Bangladesh is set to appoint an Australian as its national cricket coach under a new development agreement between the two countries.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Saber Hossain Chowdhury said he and Australian Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Denis Rogers signed the five-year agreement last week in Melbourne.

"The agreement will definitely help us to improve the quality of our cricket and its administration," Chowdhury told reporters.

He said under the agreement, two Bangladeshi cricket players would be trained each year in Australia's Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy.

Australian cricket experts would also visit Dhaka to train cricket officials on administration, financing, marketing and development of cricket, he added.

Bangladesh will have to appoint an Australian as the coach of its national team under the agreement.

The accord also provides for exchanging four under-19 series each year between the two nations.

Bangladesh was promoted to cricket's exclusive Test club in June last year.