Former Bangladesh spinner Abdur Razzak is set to begin a new chapter in his cricket career, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s High Performance Unit expected to appoint him as spin bowling coach from June.
The move comes as the BCB reshapes its High Performance structure ahead of a new development cycle, with senior assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin expected to take charge of the HP programme following Bangladesh’s ongoing series against Pakistan.
A BCB official indicated the appointment is nearing completion.
“This is almost confirmed. We just have to paper it now,” a BCB source said on Monday, speaking to Daily Sun.
According to Cricbuzz, Razzak also confirmed he is expected to take up the role next month after discussions with the board.
“Yes, we had a discussion and I am expected to join in June,” Razzak told Cricbuzz.
From selector and board director to coach
The appointment represents a significant shift for the former left-arm spinner, who has spent recent years involved in cricket administration and selection after retiring from international cricket.
Razzak previously served on Bangladesh’s national selection panel alongside former Chief Selector Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu and Minhajul Abedin Nannu before later becoming a BCB director.
His latest move signals a long-planned transition into coaching, something he said had been on his mind since his playing days.
“I always wanted to be a coach for a long time and ever since I was playing cricket it was there in mind (to be a coach) but later I joined the selection panel but now once this Level three course is completed successfully I will try to come into coaching,” said Razzak.
Level 3 qualification strengthens coaching credentials
Razzak recently completed his Level 3 coaching certification in January 2026, reportedly finishing with the highest marks among participants.
The qualification is viewed as an important step in preparing him for a more hands-on role in player development, particularly within Bangladesh’s spin-bowling pipeline.
Reflecting on the transition into coaching, Razzak said he believes much of the value comes from applying lessons learned throughout his career rather than solely relying on formal education.
“Actually, everything is not completed just through this one coaches’ programme. Throughout my entire career, whatever has happened, whatever I have learned – there are many things that I have felt are impactful and those things are actually possible to apply,” he said.
The BCB’s High Performance Unit has become an increasingly important part of Bangladesh’s talent pathway, with the programme designed to bridge the gap between domestic cricket and the national side.
Razzak is expected to focus heavily on nurturing the next generation of Bangladeshi spin bowlers, an area long viewed as central to Bangladesh’s cricket identity.
Razzak aims to fast-track development of young spinners
The former spinner said one of his major motivations for coaching is helping younger players gain exposure to key technical and tactical lessons earlier in their careers.
“For instance, suppose now there is a young boy who learns something that I learned at the age of 30. If in current times, that boy learns it only when he reaches 30 while playing for our country, then there will be no impact,” he said.
He added that earlier intervention and preparation could help emerging players develop faster than previous generations.
“In order to ensure that impact, this is mainly done – so that they are at least given a knock beforehand about things that we perhaps were not very informed about, about what needs to be done and what not. But there are many things which, in my opinion, if players are informed earlier, if they practice earlier, if they work on them earlier, they can be one or two steps ahead,” he said.
Experience remodelling bowling action could prove valuable
Razzak also pointed to his own experience remodelling his bowling action during his playing career as an example of the practical knowledge he hopes to pass on in coaching.
“Of course, they (my time when I was remodeling my bowling action) will be useful. This is why, in most cases, players are preferred in coaching. Just because of the situations they have faced throughout their careers – these cannot be found in any book,” said Razzak.
He added that many of the biggest lessons only become fully clear after retirement and reflection.
“Only someone who has faced those situations can say, I have faced this and that scenario. And what I find most interesting is that, those situations become clear later on, after retirement, in that if I had not done that work in a particular way and had done it another way, it could have yielded a different result. I want to pass on those things as well,” he said.
The restructuring of the HP Unit comes at a key period for Bangladesh cricket as the board looks to strengthen its long-term development systems and produce more players capable of making the jump to international level.
