Former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak has done a wonderful job as the bowling coach of Bangladesh cricket team, but he is interested in joining India's National Cricket Academy, and has also applied for a coaching role. Streak has played an important role in moulding Bangladeshi youngsters like Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman, who are among the best bowlers in the world at present.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board is eager to retain his services as the bowling coach but if Streak decides to leave, they have some former international bowlers lined up for his replacement, including India's Venkatesh Prasad. Along with Prasad, Sri Lanka's Champaka Ramanayake, Chaminda Vaas and Pakistan's Aaqib Javed are also in the pipeline to replace Streak.
The ball is in Streak's court as the BCB Cricket Operations Committee Chairman Akram Khan has made it open that the Zimbabwean can leave if he desires to.
"We always want a settled unit for our coaching staff, so we actually wanted Streak to stay. But if he wants to leave, we will not try to hold him back. The outcome of forcing someone to stay is never good. Rather we will try to bring someone even better," Akram told bdnews24.com.
"For now, our list of choices includes Champaka, Aaqib, Vaas, Prasad and 2-3 others. We believe bringing any one of them will be great."
However, the BCB have not sent any formal proposal to either of these former speedsters as Streak, who is currently with IPL franchise Gujarat Lions, has not informed the board anything officially.
"But we have not sent out any proposal as Streak is yet to officially tell us anything. We will make a move according to the situation," Akram said.
Streak has been instrumental in helping Bangladesh seamers shine for Bangladesh. The Zimbabwean has got attuned to the demands of Bangladesh cricket, but his tenure as their bowling coach depends on NCA's willingness to accept Streak as coach. According to reports, NCA chairman Niranjan Shah is interested in roping him in the academy.
