Head coach Russell Domingo’s future with Bangladesh cricket will hinge on the team’s performance in the T20 World Cup, believes many close to the Bangladesh Cricket Board.
The BCB is believed to be unhappy at how the 47-year old has been dealing the national dressing room, and also not getting results according to expectation.
Former South African cricketer Domingo had come to Bangladesh with the ambition of becoming the head coach of the BCB High Performance Unit.
But an impressed BCB rather thought it is prudent for him to be eligible as the head coach of the national team instead.
BCB’s observation towards Domingo had a major shift earlier this year after Bangladesh suffered three successive series losses on the trot across formats – against the West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.
The board was impatient with Domingo to deliver results and a high-profile directors’ meeting then had put the South African under evaluation.
Discussion was high of the BCB looking for a replacement of Domingo, to which president Nazmul Hasan had come in clearing the air.
The BCB boss had indicated the board’s intention for a change but said it was not possible due to the Covid-19 pandemic and for the fact that the T20 World Cup was looming on the horizon.
Domingo’s two-year agreement with the BCB, starting August 2019, has expired, but the board did not ink an extension, rather handed him charge till the T20 World Cup, to be staged in Oman and the UAE.
There is also the rift between Domingo and the senior cricketers in the shape of Mahmudullah, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim that has put BCB to rethink its stance on the South African.
Advising Mahmudullah to leave Test cricket, putting the selection panel in a dilemma over Tamim’s inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad with the cricketer finally opting out from selection, and Mushfiq’s sudden decision to quit wicket-keeping have all been reasons for the influential members of the board to raise their eyebrows.
As for the youngsters, not backing them for considerable amount of time is also being considered a fault of Domingo.
Speaking of what can be the best possible performance by Bangladesh in the T20 mega event and for Domingo to remain – is a point still up for discussion.
There isn’t any mandate.
Of course, nothing can be better than finishing as champions but practically that is tough to envisage.
The first line for Domingo will be to make Bangladesh cross to the main event, picking up wins against below ranked teams in Scotland, Papua New Guinea and co-hosts Oman in the qualifiers.
In the second round, Bangladesh will then be set to meet tough opponents in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, New Zealand and the runners-up from Group A of the qualifiers.
One can assume three wins here shall be the line and anything above that will be added bonus.
Playing the semi-finals, a prospect that will surely be in the prayers of the fans.
Then there is also the buzz of the supporters to consider.
Positive results will surely influence the supporters to give their backing to Domingo.
As it has happened before, the influential board members take note of the reactions coming from the supporters – in Bangladesh cricket this does wonders in the decision-making.
All in all, Domingo must hope his charges punch above their weight in the global tournament to salvage his job.