Bangladesh name Pybus as new cricket coach

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Wednesday named the former Pakistan coach Richard Pybus as their new head coach on a two-year contract.

The 47-year-old, who had two spells with Pakistan, takes over from former Australian cricketer Stuart Law, who is stepping down less than a year into his two-year contract for family reasons.

Confirming the Pybus appointment, Bangladesh cricket spokesman Jalal Yunus told AFP: "He will join the Bangladesh team in the first week of June, just before the team travels to Zimbabwe for the tri-nation T20 cricket series."

"He has rich experience as a coach. He visited Bangladesh three weeks back when he spoke with players, board members and support staff. He knows the conditions here very well."

Law leaves Bangladesh in good form after defeating India and Sri Lanka on the way to the Asia Cup final in Dhaka, which they lost to Pakistan.

"I am delighted at the opportunity of coaching Bangladesh," Pybus said, according to a Bangladesh Cricket Board statement. "I am looking forward to getting busy with the boys."

"The next few months will be about building relationships with the players and the coaching staff and ensuring that the progress made up to the Asia Cup continues," added Pybus, who was born in England but raised in Australia.

Pybus turned to coaching in his mid-twenties after injury halted his playing ambitions. He coached in South Africa before taking over the Pakistan team between 1999 and 2001 and in 2003.