Allan Donald

‘Coaches should not compromise with raw pace’

Nahid Rana stunned the cricketing world with his raw pace during Bangladesh’s historic 2-0 Test series triumph over hosts Pakistan, clocking over 150 kmph while also claiming his career-best figures in the second Test. Even though Bangladesh cricket has been reaping the benefits of forming a potent pace group across formats in recent years, the factors behind the emergence of talented quicks have not been focused on a large scale. The Test series triumph against Pakistan in Rawalpindi would not have materialised if pacers like Hasan Mahmud, Nahid, Shoriful Islam, and Taskin Ahmed had not outshone the quicks of Pakistan -- a country historically known as the ‘land of pacers’. What comes as a hopeful sign for fans and a sweet headache for the team management is that these four...

Allan Donald Interview / ‘I take my hat off to the pacers’

South African fast bowling legend Allan Donald has been heavily credited for his role in Bangladesh’s pace revolution during his tenure as the team’s pace bowling coach from March 2022 to November 2023. The 57-year-old, who resigned after the ICC World Cup in India, is still a big supporter of the Tigers and keeps in touch with the Bangladesh pacers. On Monday, Donald spoke with The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan over the phone from Johannesburg, where he expressed immense pleasure at seeing his former pupils doing so well in Pakistan. Here are the excerpts:

Ambrose ‘might be interested’ to coach Tigers

Fast-bowling great Ambrose, who is currently in Dhaka working as a commentator in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), gave a positive nod when he was asked whether he would want to work with the Bangladesh team. 

BCB appoints new performance analyst for Tigers 

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointed Mohsin Sheikh Pervaiz as the national team’s performance analyst for the New Zealand tour, the BCB confirmed to The Daily Star on Tuesday. 

Donald joins DP World Lions coaching staff

Former Bangladesh bowling coach Allan Donald joined the coaching staff of DP World Lions, a domestic team in South Africa.

Donald to leave Tigers after WC

Bangladesh fast-bowling coach Allan Donald confirmed yesterday that he will step down from his role after the World Cup, becoming the first member of the Tigers’ coaching staff to call it quits following their disastrous campaign in India.

Donald to step down as Bangladesh bowling coach after World Cup

“Yes I’m done and going home!” Donald told The Daily Star on Thursday.

'I don't like it': Donald on Mathews' timed-out dismissal

"It was disappointing to see. I can understand Shakib taking his chance. His words were 'I was doing everything to win'. You can sense in my voice that I don't like it…," said Donald

‘Everything at this level is about mindset’

Bangladesh's fast-bowling department has been a revelation, with the Tigers enjoying the luxury of an extended crop of promising pacers that have started to win games for Bangladesh at home and, most noticeably, in foreign conditions. Overseeing the pace-bowling brigade is legendary South Africa pacer Allan Donald, who spoke with The Daily Star's Ekush Tapader about the changes he has seen in the pacers' skillset as well as mindset while giving inside into what had done the trick for over the past 12 months. The excerpts are below:

September 7, 2024
September 7, 2024

‘Coaches should not compromise with raw pace’

Nahid Rana stunned the cricketing world with his raw pace during Bangladesh’s historic 2-0 Test series triumph over hosts Pakistan, clocking over 150 kmph while also claiming his career-best figures in the second Test. Even though Bangladesh cricket has been reaping the benefits of forming a potent pace group across formats in recent years, the factors behind the emergence of talented quicks have not been focused on a large scale. The Test series triumph against Pakistan in Rawalpindi would not have materialised if pacers like Hasan Mahmud, Nahid, Shoriful Islam, and Taskin Ahmed had not outshone the quicks of Pakistan -- a country historically known as the ‘land of pacers’. What comes as a hopeful sign for fans and a sweet headache for the team management is that these four...

September 3, 2024
September 3, 2024

‘I take my hat off to the pacers’

South African fast bowling legend Allan Donald has been heavily credited for his role in Bangladesh’s pace revolution during his tenure as the team’s pace bowling coach from March 2022 to November 2023. The 57-year-old, who resigned after the ICC World Cup in India, is still a big supporter of the Tigers and keeps in touch with the Bangladesh pacers. On Monday, Donald spoke with The Daily Star’s Samsul Arefin Khan over the phone from Johannesburg, where he expressed immense pleasure at seeing his former pupils doing so well in Pakistan. Here are the excerpts:

January 20, 2024
January 20, 2024

Ambrose ‘might be interested’ to coach Tigers

Fast-bowling great Ambrose, who is currently in Dhaka working as a commentator in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), gave a positive nod when he was asked whether he would want to work with the Bangladesh team. 

December 12, 2023
December 12, 2023

BCB appoints new performance analyst for Tigers 

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointed Mohsin Sheikh Pervaiz as the national team’s performance analyst for the New Zealand tour, the BCB confirmed to The Daily Star on Tuesday. 

November 25, 2023
November 25, 2023

Donald joins DP World Lions coaching staff

Former Bangladesh bowling coach Allan Donald joined the coaching staff of DP World Lions, a domestic team in South Africa.

November 10, 2023
November 10, 2023

Donald to leave Tigers after WC

Bangladesh fast-bowling coach Allan Donald confirmed yesterday that he will step down from his role after the World Cup, becoming the first member of the Tigers’ coaching staff to call it quits following their disastrous campaign in India.

November 9, 2023
November 9, 2023

Donald to step down as Bangladesh bowling coach after World Cup

“Yes I’m done and going home!” Donald told The Daily Star on Thursday.

November 8, 2023
November 8, 2023

'I don't like it': Donald on Mathews' timed-out dismissal

"It was disappointing to see. I can understand Shakib taking his chance. His words were 'I was doing everything to win'. You can sense in my voice that I don't like it…," said Donald

May 20, 2023
May 20, 2023

‘Everything at this level is about mindset’

Bangladesh's fast-bowling department has been a revelation, with the Tigers enjoying the luxury of an extended crop of promising pacers that have started to win games for Bangladesh at home and, most noticeably, in foreign conditions. Overseeing the pace-bowling brigade is legendary South Africa pacer Allan Donald, who spoke with The Daily Star's Ekush Tapader about the changes he has seen in the pacers' skillset as well as mindset while giving inside into what had done the trick for over the past 12 months. The excerpts are below:

March 15, 2023
March 15, 2023

‘I wanted venom on the ball’

Despite discussions about the slow and low nature of the Mirpur surface and how much the Tigers would rely on home conditions as they looked to undo England prior to the start of the three-match T20I series, it was a breath of fresh air to witness the impact of the pace-bowling unit as Bangladesh sealed a maiden whitewash series win against the reigning white-ball world champions.