Bangladesh have terminated the services of head coach Steve Rhodes following the team’s eighth-place finish in the 2019 ICC World Cup in England.
Rhodes was contracted by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to the role until the 2020 T20 World Cup in Australia but the Englishman has now been let go after a ‘mutual decision’ between the two parties.
A decision on the new coach of Bangladesh is expected to be taken before the end of the month before the team flies out for its tour of Sri Lanka.
“The board has come to a mutual decision with Steve,” BCB media committee chairman Jalal Younus was quoted as saying by the Dhaka Tribune.
“We have decided to let him go and finish the association on good note. Given Bangladesh has tour of Sri Lanka end of this month, the board will decide the coach in the meeting going to be held between July 20-22,” he added.
Rhodes had taken over as Bangladesh head coach exactly a year ago with the team reaching the final of the 2018 Asia Cup in the UAE under his guidance before going going down to India. He had previously served as the director of cricket for Worcestershire from 2006 to 2017.
The Englishman’s impact in the Test format has been less than desirable but he did oversee an ODI tri-series win in Ireland just days before the start of the World Cup.
Rhodes will not be the only one leaving his Bangladesh role with bowling coach Courtney Walsh’s contract also coming to an end. The BCB had earlier announced that they will not be renewing the contract of the former Windies pacer.
Bangladesh are set to take on hosts Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series at the end of the month with the first of the clashes due to take place on July 26.
