Ian Pont named Bangladesh bowling coach

Bangladesh's hunt for a bowling coach has finally come to an end with the appointment of Ian Pont, the former Essex fast bowler. He has been awarded a contract till the end of next year's World Cup and will join the Bangladesh team's training camp on Thursday in Mirpur.

Pont, 49, played for Essex, Nottinghamshire and Natal before retiring from first-class cricket in 1990. He has extensive coaching experience, having managed the Netherlands side for two years leading up to the 2007 World Cup, besides working with county teams Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Essex and Kent as a fast bowling coach.

The appointment fills a vacancy created by the resignation of former Sri Lanka fast bowler Champaka Ramanayake due to illness. Former South African allrounder Lance Klusener had been the Bangladesh board's original choice but after prolonged discussions he turned down the offer earlier this month.

Pont has developed a specialised coaching method known as Advanced Biomechanics Speed & Accuracy Technique and has authored the coaching manual "The Fast Bowler's Bible", which was published in 2006.