Bangladesh have taken onboard former South African paceman Allan Donald as the new pace bowling coach. Cricket Operations Chairman Jalal Yunus confirmed the news to The Daily Star this evening. Donald has been contracted till the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.
"He has been contracted till the T20I World Cup in Australia," Jalal informed. Bangladesh has been without a pace bowling coach since the New Zealand series after Otis Gibson did not renew his contract with BCB.
He worked as bowling coach for New Zealand in the 2011 World Cup before being drafted in by South Africa as bowling coach to work under Gary Kirsten in 2011. After Kirsten left in 2013, Russell Domingo was appointed South Africa's head coach and Donald worked under the South African as bowling coach before being replaced by Charl Langeveldt. He worked with South Africa from 2011 till 2015. He has worked with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL. In 2017, he was hired as interim bowling coach by Sri Lanka for the ICC Champions Trophy.
"Good day everyone. A very special day for me just to announce that I will be joining the Bangladesh cricket team right from the start of the South African series, leading up to the T20 World Cup that will take place in Australia. I am also working very closely with Russell Domingo who I know very very well from my days with the Proteas. I know he's been working very hard with the Bangladesh team and I am looking forward to working with the Bangladesh fast bowlers. Young talented bunch and I know that they are doing very well over there at the moment against Afghanistan. I really look forward to joining them in the coming days in Pretoria before the first One-day international against the Proteas," Donald himself confirmed later in a video message today.
Donald, who took 330 Test wickets during a career that spanned 1992-2002 was nicknamed the 'White Lightning' during his playing days for his fierce pace and aggressive bowling. His last coaching stint was for ITEC Knights, a first-division domestic team in South Africa.
Bangladesh is scheduled to tour South Africa for three ODIs and two Tests with the opening fixture scheduled for March 18. It was learned that Donald will begin his tenure with the Tigers from South Africa.
