Bangladesh National Selector Steps Down Just Before ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Bangladesh national selector Hannan Sarkar has decided to quit a week before his tenure was to end. He was appointed in March 2024 and was going to retire on February 26. However, Sarkar feels that he can eventually become a coach for the national team.

On February 1, Sarkar officially informed the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) of his decision in a letter. He said that although he wantеd to serve until the end of his term, he had to resign for the benefit of the board. He had served as an age-group selector for almost a decade before becoming the national selector, including helping out with the U-19 team. 

"Yes, I have handed them (board) the letter yesterday to step down from the selection committee. I wish to have a career in coaching, and as a result don't want to continue as part of the national selection panel," Sarkar said.

"If BCB feels that they can include me in as a coach in their set-up, in that case, I am ready to consider it," Sarkar added.

"What I was contributing as a selector was fine. But what I really felt was I should choose coaching as a future career for the long run. I was thinking about the matter for quite a long time. Now I have proceeded with it officially," he concluded.

The 42-year-old had a very brief two-year international career, in which he played 17 Tests and 20 ODIs for Bangladesh. After retirеment, he joined the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as age-level selector and spent almost a decade as a U19 selector. The U19 team won the 2020 World Cup and their first Asia cup in 2024 when he was at the helm. He made it to the senior selection panel after doing well in age-group cricket.