The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is engaged in talks with former South African batsman and fielding specialist Jonty Rhodes to rope him as a short-term fielding assistant for the Bangladesh national side.
Bangladesh lost all-eight matches on the Kiwis’ tour which consisted of three ODIs, three T20Is and two Tests.
After backing on some good performances in the first Test at Wellington, Bangladesh fielders in the second Test against Black Caps put down five catches in the first innings before the development came to fore – to have Rhodes as a fielding coach to focus on fitness.
The middle-order batsman Rhodes, who had worked as the fielding coach for South Africa, Pakistan, Kenya – is also serving as the fielding assistant in the Indian Premier League for Mumbai Indians.
“We have contacted him and he has shown interest in the position,” BCB president has Nazmul Hassan Papon was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.
BCB president has stated that the Bangladesh selectors want to have Rhodes, the lighting quick on field as the fielding expert who played between 1990s and early 2000 for Proteas.
“We already have discussed and almost finalised the decision to bring Jonty Rhodes and people like him,” Papon added.
Sportzwiki has learnt that the deal is almost in its final shape which could be a month long role for the former 47-year-old batsman Rhodes.
Rhodes is likely to replace Richard Halsall in the Bangladesh national team who has been playing the role of an assistant coach.
“We will do one more thing. We will devise a process by which we can monitor the players even when they are away from the camp. When there’s a camp, players are serious and physically fit, but when they go back home, they get relaxed,” concluded Papon.
After the One-off Test against India next month, in September-October this year, Bangladesh will face South Africa in three ODIs, two Tests and two T20Is.
The Natal-born Rhodes, who manned the point region, played 245 ODIs, 52 Tests for South Africa.