Salahuddin Aims to Elevate Local Coaches in Bangladesh

Bangladesh's recently appointed Senior Assistant Coach, Mohammad Salahuddin, announced on Friday that he is focused on paving the way for local coaches to rise within the national cricket framework. Historically, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has shown hesitation in assigning top roles to domestic coaches. However, BCB’s new president, Faruque Ahmed, is pushing for change by bringing Salahuddin on board to support the men’s national team. Salahuddin’s tenure will extend until March 15 next year, with his first assignment being Bangladesh’s tour of the West Indies, starting with a four-day warm-up game in Antigua.

With over 20 years of coaching experience, Salahuddin, who holds an ACC-Cricket Australia Level 3 accreditation, is among Bangladesh’s most accomplished local coaches. His previous roles included Assistant Coach and Fielding Coach for the national team from 2006 to 2010, as well as specialist coach for the BCB National Cricket Academy from 2010 to 2011.

Reflecting on his approach to coaching, Salahuddin remarked that his primary responsibility is to inspire players to envision themselves dominating on the world stage. He highlighted that his role is to help players enhance their technical and strategic skills. “The main task is to empower them to dream bigger, helping them set higher goals,” he explained in a statement released by BCB on Friday.

Salahuddin noted that while young players often aspire to join the national team, their ambitions tend to stagnate once they achieve that goal. He observed that veteran players must recognise the importance of continuous growth and goal-setting to excel further. His goal, he stated, is to guide players to cultivate the right mindset, both on and off the field, so they can progress beyond their initial achievements.

In his statement, Salahuddin reiterated his intention to establish a pathway for local coaches. He has long hoped for a system where local coaching talent could thrive. He expressed confidence that by taking on this role, he could help strengthen the BCB’s trust in local coaches, which in turn would build public and national confidence in their capabilities. "If I can set an example, it will open doors for future coaches and boost their self-belief to succeed internationally," he added.

Acknowledging that this opportunity was a long time coming, Salahuddin credited Faruque Ahmed for urging him to join the national setup. “Faruque bhai called me multiple times, highlighting the importance of my role on the team,” he shared. Salahuddin felt that this moment was ideal for using his expertise to benefit Bangladesh cricket. Recalling his previous tenure when he worked with players like Shakib, Tamim, Mushfiq, Riyad, and Mashrafe, he recognised how that generation contributed immensely to the nation’s progress. Now, he is committed to applying his knowledge to uplift the next generation, offering support in mental, technical, and tactical development.