Dinuka looking to make good spinners for world cricket
Dinuka Hettiarachchi only joined the Bangladesh women's team as spin bowling coach in the recent series in Sri Lanka. There is however a significance to his appointment as he is the first spin coach the Tigresses have had.
On Monday, he was showing young spinners the rope on how to bowl in the right areas with compatriot and head coach Hashan Tilakratne watching on. The videos from the session were analysed too and the Sri Lankan spin coach, who has worked with the Sri Lanka women's side previously had a big target in focus – produce world-class spinners.
He was seen working with spinner Nahida Akter during the session and asked, he said: "Lot of positives. I think this is the first time that they have a spin-bowling coach. For me, I want to make good spinners for world cricket. Not domestic cricket. Try to make them correct but it will take time. I used to work with Sri Lanka women's and as you know in the subcontinent, both men's and women's spinners are doing really well."
Plenty of the younger spinners, yet to find a foothold in international cricket, have been undergoing spin sessions with Dinuka.
The Tigresses have an important home series against India coming up while the team management are seeking young talents in preparation for the 2024 T20 World Cup at home. Dinuka said that experienced spinner Rumana Haque will get her opportunity again despite being dropped from the India series preliminary squad but for now, the team management's focus was on younger players.
"We have a good bunch of spin bowlers and are trying to change and play different bowlers for T20s and One-dayers. Now I'm working with young cricketers and trying to bring young cricketers in so we need experience and we try to use Rumana as well," he opined.
"Rabeya [Khan] and [Sanjida Akter] Meghla who are very young are there. Nahida too has experience.," he added.
The Tigresses will be playing at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium for the first time since 2012 and the wicket had grass in it, favouring pacers sporadically. It was learned that the team management would be eying spin wickets for the Tigress.
Dinuka was hopeful of home advantage working in Bangladesh's favour against India. "Ofcourse [there will be home advantage]. India have experienced players and we have young cricketers coming up. They will learn because when you practice and find out how to bowl on spin wickets and slow or bouncy wickets, it's a good learning curve for them.
"It is not easy playing against India but we have good spinners coming up and the youngsters are doing really well. Hopefully we give India a good challenge," he said about home advantage and coping with India's spin attack.
Asked if compatriots Hashan and Mirpur's head curator Gamini De Silva were making things easier for him, he said: "It is [easier]. I used to work with him for two years and Hashan knows I'm working hard with the spin bowlers."
Overall, he saw value in the individual sessions that have been undertaken prior to Eid vacations.
"We have a good tournament coming up against the India side so it's very important for the spinners to undergo these kinds of camps for the technical side of things and end up with good positive things," he concluded.