Steve Rhodes: “It didn’t take long at all to show my interest to coach this wonderful country”
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Former England wicketkeeper and Worcestershire coach Steve Rhodes has been named Bangladesh’s head coach until the end of the World Twenty20 in 2020.
Rhodes was contacted by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury in March after England assistant coach Paul Farbrace turned down the job.
Rhodes also featured on Gary Kirsten’s list of shortlisted candidates for the position.
After an interview, where Rhodes told the BCB about his plans for the national team going forward, the board unveiled him as Bangladesh’s new head coach three hours later.
“I spoke with Nizam originally,” Rhodes was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. “I am proud that Gary Kirsten, a very respected cricketing figure, put my name forward. The temptation straightaway was to say, ‘yes, of course’. It didn’t take long at all to show my interest to coach this wonderful country.”
Prior to appointing Rhodes, the BCB asked Farbrace, Tom Moody, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Andy Flower, Justin Langer and Geoff Marsh about the vacant role, but all of them turned it down.
Richard Pybus and Phil Simmons were interviewed in December, but didn’t receive a callback.
While Rhodes has experience coaching a county team, he hopes that his vast amount of experience will help him excel at his job and take Bangladesh to new heights in international cricket.
“I am very lucky to be involved in some of England’s preparations which include their tour to Bangladesh in 2016,” Rhodes said. “I have had a flavour of international coaching. There’s not a lot of difference in how you go about your coaching, but obviously the international programme is quite heavy.
“Trying to keep the boys up for the game isn’t easy to do. Ultimately, I feel as though I am qualified now. You can see I have grey hair, which tends to mean you’ve gone through hard times. Hopefully my experience will be of real value to the Bangladesh team.”
Rhodes also insisted that he has the stamina required to coach Bangladesh in all three formats.
“I don’t see it as a major problem at all. I know that Gary had initially thought along those lines. Lots of coaches do all formats. I am a very hard working person so I think I will have enough energy to cover all three formats well,” he said.
Rhodes revealed that one of his main goals is to prepare Bangladesh for the 2019 World Cup, which will be held in England and Wales, and try to ensure they have the best possible chance of reaching the final for the first time ever.
“I just told the president and board members that Bangladesh did well in the Champions Trophy in England,” he said. “They’ve proved they can play well in English conditions. To get to a semi-final in that competition was a marvelous effort by Bangladesh.
“If we can get to that stage or even further, I am now thinking along the lines of what a dream would be to see Bangladesh lined up for the final. It would be a fantastic occasion.”