Halsall resignation accepted by BCB

Bangladesh national cricket team assistant coach Richard Halsall resigned from his post citing 'family considerations'. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) informed yesterday that they have accepted his resignation, whose contract was extended in 2016 till the 2019 ICC World Cup.

It was however all but confirmed that Halsall's association with the BCB was going to end when he had been sent on force leave after the conclusion of the home series against Sri Lanka and was released by the board from the just-concluded tour of Sri Lanka for the T20I tri-nation Nidahas Trophy.

There had been rumours that a few of the senior members of the team were not happy with Halsall, the Tigers' assistant and fielding coach. It was learned that BCB accepted the resignation once he joined a county side.

BCB and Halsall, however, thanked each other in their statements.

"Richard has officially submitted his resignation. We understand that his decision is from family considerations and he wishes to stay close to home especially to be by the side of his ailing father. The Board respects his priorities and has accepted the resignation," said BCB CEO Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, adding: "The board would like to thank Richard for his contribution to Bangladesh cricket."   

"I wish to thank the Board for four brilliant years with the National Team. I have worked alongside some excellent colleagues and have had so many opportunities to grow and develop in my career," Halsall said in his statement.

The BCB is now desperately looking for a suitable head coach for the national team after the departure of Sri Lanka's Chandika Hatursingha last November.

"We are working on appointing the new coaches and fortunately we have some time to find suitable candidates as we don't have any immediate international assignment," said BCB media committee chairman Jalal Yunus.

Bangladesh's next international assignment is in June against Afghanistan before a full series against the West Indies, which may be pushed to August from July. The BCB has confirmed three ODIs against an up and coming Afghanistan, who have just been awarded Test status. The matches will likely be played in the Indian city of Dehradun from the first week of June.