Hannan Sarkar Named Bangladesh U-19 Head Coach

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a reshaped coaching structure for its youth development programme, appointing former national opener Hannan Sarkar as the new head coach of the Under-19 side, alongside a strengthened support staff and an expanded performance analytics initiative aimed at modernising player development pathways.

Hannan, who was part of the BCB junior selection panel during the 2020 ICC Under-19 World Cup campaign—where Bangladesh famously lifted the trophy—has steadily progressed through the domestic coaching ranks following his retirement from playing. He later served as a national selector before transitioning fully into coaching.

In recent seasons, Hannan guided Abahani Limited to a Dhaka Premier League title and also took charge of Rajshahi Warriors in the Bangladesh Premier League, where the franchise secured the championship under his leadership. He subsequently worked with the Bangladesh Under-17 set-up, earning promotion to the Under-19 role as part of the board’s long-term development strategy.

At a press conference held in Mirpur, the BCB confirmed a largely locally assembled coaching panel for the youth side, with five of the six members being home-grown appointments. The board also emphasised continuity, retaining several individuals who have been part of recent Under-19 structures.

Coaching and Mentorship Structure

Alongside Hannan, the board confirmed that former international cricketer Mahmudullah will continue to serve as mentor across various age-group teams, including the High Performance Unit. Additionally, former opener Imrul Kayes has been appointed as mentor for upcoming overseas assignments involving the Emerging and High Performance squads in Australia.

Former pacer Dollar Mahmud has been named pace bowling coach, while Mohammad Selim retains his role as fielding coach—both of whom were part of the previous Under-19 setup, ensuring continuity in technical development.

A BCB official noted that the structure has been designed to balance experience, familiarity, and modern coaching methodologies, with a strong focus on preparing players for senior international cricket.

Analytics Lab Initiative

In a parallel development, the BCB also announced the launch of a dedicated analytics laboratory at the indoor facilities of the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The facility will compile and preserve a comprehensive video and performance database covering players from Under-14 level through to the senior national team.

Officials stated that the system is designed to strengthen evidence-based selection and long-term talent tracking, enabling coaches and analysts to monitor technical progression over time.

Under the new framework, Hannan Sarkar stated that the focus will not only be on producing winning results at youth level but also on developing cricketers capable of sustaining careers at the highest level of international cricket.