Steve Rhodes departs as Bangladesh head coach after early World Cup exit

Bangladesh have decided to part ways with their head coach Steve Rhoades after their World Cup exit, in what has been bizarrely labelled as ‘mutual separation’. Bangladesh finished eighth in the ongoing edition of the World Cup, a disappointing standing despite some brilliant competitive displays.

Rhodes was appointed in June last year, with his tenure scheduled to last till the T20 World Cup in Australia in 2020. Under his tenure, Bangladesh had a successful outing in the ODI format of the game. They won bilateral series’ home and away against West Indies, finished runners-up at the Asia Cup and also won their first multi-team series away in Ireland.

But not reaching the semi-final of the World Cup has seemingly ended up costing Rhodes his job. Confirming the departure, Bangladesh Cricket Board chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury told AFP:

“We have decided to part ways with the head coach by mutual consent. The decision will be effective immediately.”

Chowdhury was quick to assert that the coach had not been sacked, saying in a media briefing:

“‘It’s not like we are sacking him. We had a clause that stated that we can assess our respective positions after this World Cup though he had the contract until the next World Twenty20. We can call it a mutual separation. We are implementing it from now onwards and that means he is not available with us from the tour of Sri Lanka.”