Simon Helmot appointed head coach of Bangladesh’s High Performance Programme

Simon Helmot, Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel’s coach, on Saturday (June 11) was appointed as the head coach of Bangladesh’s High Performance Programme which is set to run from August to October later in the year, ESPNcricinfo reported.

Nizamuddin Chowdhury, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief said that Helmot’s performance in the programme will determine whether the board will want to pursue with him on a longer run. Mel Loye, who had served as the head coach of the High Performance Programme last year was satisfied with the outcome and had expressed his desire to serve in the position once again. However, that didn’t materialise.

“According to his performance, we will think of his long-term responsibility. We have a plan with him, but for now it is based on the number of days he can be available. The HP programme will begin after the Dhaka Premier League (DPL), and the squad will be announced beforehand.”

Last year when the programme was initiated, the plan was to achieve the following results (as per the BCB press release):

– High Performance (HP) aims to have the best prepared players in International Cricket.

– The program has been designed in the light of successful models used by successful various sports teams, and its flexibility gives it a contextual acceptance for Bangladesh Cricket.

– HP will provide world class facilities for developing physical, technical, tactical and mental skills.

– HP will harness world-class talent identification, development and management systems.

– HP will provide competition structures and opportunities to enhance the national team’s performance.

The program has three main branches to cater the current crop of National Team members, a potential pipeline of young talent (age below 25) as future prospects for the national team and sets of elite programs to cater the specific needs in batting, fast and spin bowling, keeping and fielding aspects of those who are in and around national team contention.

Helmot arrived in Dhaka on Friday to sign the contract and will begin the work at the end of DPL. Apart from being the coach for Caribbean Premier League’s Trinidad and Tobago, Helmot has also served as the assistant coach of Indian Premier League’s Sunrisers Hyderabad and Big Bash League’s Hobart Hurricanes. He has also been the head coach of Australia A, apart from being a part of Australia’s 2010 World T20 support staff.