BCB appoints Malibongwe Maketa as assistant coach on Domingo and Gibson's advice
Following recommendations from former coaches Russell Domingo and Ottis Gibson, the BCB has appointed Malibongwe Maketa as the new assistant coach of the national team.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board has appointed Malibongwe Maketa as the assistant coach of the national team, addressing a prolonged search for a specialist mentor. The decision followed strong recommendations from former head coach Russell Domingo and former bowling coach Ottis Gibson, whose praise convinced the board to finalise the arrangement.
The 45-year-old South African coach will officially assume his duties starting from the upcoming tour of the United Arab Emirates. The board sought a practical mentor who could work intensively with the players rather than relying on a big name, ultimately aligning with head coach Phil Simmons on the selection.
Maketa replaces Mohammad Salahuddin, who recently served as head coach at the Asian Games and now primarily focuses on the High Performance unit. Although relatively unfamiliar on the global stage, Maketa is widely regarded as one of South Africa's finest coaches, having served as interim head coach, assistant coach, and long-time under-19 coach.
Reflecting on his modest playing career as a pace-bowling all-rounder who made a single first-class appearance in 2000, Maketa transitioned into coaching at the age of 25. He rose quickly through the domestic ranks with the Titans and North West before securing South Africa A and national academy roles, and leading the Proteas under-19 side in recent World Cups.
Speaking on his new assignment, Maketa expressed his enthusiasm to work with the young squad alongside Phil Simmons and the rest of the coaching staff. Bangladesh's upcoming tour of the United Arab Emirates will feature a Test match against Afghanistan, followed by a triangular one-day series involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.