Klusener turns down Bangladesh coaching role

Lance Klusener, the former South Africa allrounder, has finally turned down the offer to take over as Bangladesh's bowling coach, ending a prolonged period of speculation over his possible appointment. Klusener, who was in discussions to replace Sri Lanka's Champaka Ramanayake, was reportedly unable to convince his wife about a permanent move to Bangladesh.

BCB had tried to be flexible with Klusener's demands to return home between series. "We are ready to fulfill all his demands," BCB spokesman Jalal Yunus said. "He wanted some additional facilities and we agreed. We were also ready to allow him to go on a long leave between the twin home series against New Zealand and Zimbabwe and the World Cup." However, the board was not open to the idea of having him on a strictly tour-by-tour basis.

Klusener, who has a level-three coaching degree, was in the frame following Ramanayake's resignation due to illness. "He put us in a serious trouble as we are now facing a race against time to appoint a bowling coach for the Tigers," Yunus said. "We don't have too many options now.

"England's Andy Caddick was an option but he has a business interest at home. We had also contacted Venkatesh Prasad, but he is also unlikely to come as he has a chance of joining the Asian Cricket Council as a development coach." Colin Croft , the former West Indies fast bowler, had expressed interest in the role but was rejected for a lack of coaching experience.

Meanwhile the board appointed sports psychologist Soumendra Saha as a consultant for the side. Saha who joined the squad's training camp in Mirpur, will work closely with the players for three weeks before returning to his teaching job with a university in Malaysia.