The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially announced the appointment of a new coaching and management panel for the Bangladesh Under-19 national cricket team. Former national cricketer and former national selector Hannan Sarkar has been appointed as the head coach of the youth squad. Concurrently, veteran national cricketer Mahmudullah Riyad has been appointed as a consultant for the Under-19 team and various other squads within the board’s developmental structure. These appointments form part of the BCB’s long-term strategy ahead of the 2028 ICC Under-19 World Cup.
Expanded Roles for Mahmudullah Riyad and Imrul Kayes
Although Mahmudullah Riyad continued to play domestic cricket after stepping away from certain tiers of international cricket, he has assumed this institutional role prior to announcing a formal retirement from all formats of the game. The BCB has clarified that his consulting responsibilities will extend beyond the Under-19 setup to encompass multiple developmental tiers, including the Under-17 and Under-15 structures.
Furthermore, the board intends to attach Mahmudullah to the High Performance (HP) Unit during their upcoming tour of Australia. The BCB also plans to incorporate former national opening batsman Imrul Kayes, who currently resides in Australia, into the coaching panel specifically for the duration of that overseas High Performance series.
Regulations and Management Restructuring
The newly appointed head coach, Hannan Sarkar, is actively engaged in coaching within the domestic club cricket circuit. However, the BCB has mandated that during active Under-19 international or bilateral fixtures, he must remain exclusively with the youth team. Under standing BCB regulations, coaches under formal contract with the board are permitted to work in either the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League (DPL) or the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), but are strictly restricted from participating in both tournaments simultaneously.
Reflecting on his appointment, Hannan Sarkar stated that managing the youth team had been a long-held ambition. He noted that he had worked as a coach prior to becoming a national selector, a role he filled for nine years. He added that the BCB’s current policy of promoting domestic professionals motivated him to pursue this new responsibility.
Preparations for the 2028 Youth World Cup
The strategic appointments coincide with the commencement of the BCB’s preparatory cycle for the 2028 Under-19 World Cup. The domestic Youth Cricket League has concluded, and a training camp featuring 45 selected young players is underway in Khulna to identify and develop talent for the global tournament.
A summary of the newly established coaching structure and associated strategic plans is outlined in the table below:
| Official Title | Appointed Personnel | Professional Background | Core Assignment | Auxiliary Board Objective |
| Head Coach | Hannan Sarkar | Former national player & national selector | Bangladesh U-19 Head Coach | Long-term squad building for the 2028 World Cup |
| Consultant | Mahmudullah Riyad | Former national captain & active domestic player | U-19 and Development Tier Consultant | Inclusion in the HP Unit during the Australia tour |
| Coaching Staff | Imrul Kayes | Former national opening batsman | HP Unit Coaching Panelist (Australia tour) | Utilising local expertise during the Australian series |