Bangladesh wants cricket help

BBC Sport Online speaks to the Bangladesh Cricket Board about the country's foray into Test cricket.

Bangladesh wants support from other Test-playing countries to help them progress in cricket with neighbours Pakistan and India, and the world's best team, Australia, prime targets.

They play Sri Lanka in the second match of the Asian Test Championship in Colombo on Thursday after already being beaten by an innings and 264 runs by Pakistan.

"The cricket craze in Bangladesh borders on fanaticism and with the support from other Test-playing countries we would improve by leaps and bound," said Bangladesh Cricket Board director Syed Ashraful Huq.

Bangladesh were humbled by Pakistan

He told BBC Sport Online: "If you go in any far flung village of Bangladesh you would see kids playing cricket in lungis (Bangladesh's national dress) as cricket has long overtaken football as number one sport."

Bangladesh were awarded Test status in June 2000, and have an Australian coach in Trevor Chappell as well as a special arrangement with Australia.

"We have a strategic understanding with the Australian Cricket Board. We will get coaches from them and send our junior players to Australian cricket academy every year," Huq said.

Bangladesh, once a part of Pakistan as Eastern Province, only gained independence in 1971 after a third war between Pakistan and India.

Dhaka was once one of the biggest centres of Pakistan cricket and hosts Pakistan's first home Test match in 1954.

Bedi's expert tuition is wanted

"I played first-class cricket alongside Imran Khan, Wasim Raja and Sadiq Mohammad, but cricket was restricted to one-day games after the independence.

"We have asked the Pakistan Cricket Board to send former leg-spinner Abdul Qadir and left-armer Iqbal Qasim to coach in Bangladesh and Bishen Bedi from India," Huq said.

Pakistan's Javed Miandad served a 15-day stint as batting coach in Bangladesh last month and West Indian Andy Roberts is currently helping emerging fast bowlers.

"I am impressed with their under-age cricketers and it bodes well for Bangladesh.

"I think they will struggle in international cricket as every team does, but once these young players take over Bangladesh will not be pushovers," Miandad said.

Miandad has assisted the batsmen

"Miandad was a great help and we would like him to come for at least two months once he has time," Huq said.

Bangladesh finished as runners-up to India when the Asian U17 tournament was held in Dhaka last year, after beating Sri Lanka in the semi-final.

"We will get four Sri Lankan coaches for our under-15 and under-17 teams and this will be a future investment," Huq said.

A recent switch from one-day cricket to three- and four-day first-class games are starting to bear fruit.

The future of cricket in Bangladesh is bright and I am not bothered by recent defeats

Syed Ashraful Huq
Bangladesh Cricket Board director

"Bangladeshi players are used to of playing limited-over games, but I hope that with three-day and four-day games they will learn how to stay at the wicket," coach Chappell said.

Bangladesh's four defeats in as many Tests have been largely down to poor batting.

"Our top order must learn how to occupy the crease, it can be matured through first-class games," captain Naimur Rehman said.

The man in charge of Bangladesh cricket was upbeat about the future ahead.

"I am optimistic, the future of cricket in Bangladesh is bright and I am not bothered by recent defeats," Huq said.

"The most important thing is that players must learn and if they do so cricket will progress in Bangladesh," Huq said.