Harmer interview today

The Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) quest to find a new foreign coach for the national team gained momentum with John Harmer's arrival in Dhaka yesterday morning.

The senior Australian coach faces the BCB officials with a presentation for the position of national team coach at the board headquarters in Dhaka this morning.

Former Zimbabwe captain David Houghton, now in the UK, is next in line but his arrival would be confirmed once he gets the British passport.

Cricket Operations Committee chairman Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu informed yesterday that the board has been in communication with Houghton, who would make his travel plans after September 10, when he is likely to receive his passport.

Coach Jamie Siddons who is currently touring India with an Australian selection, will probably be the last in line.

Former national captains Roquibul Hassan, Lipu, coach Jalal Ahmed Chowdhury, Ishtiaque Ahmed and Lt Col (retd) MA Latif Khan will be in the coach selection panel.

The 65-year-old Harmer, who is currently working at the Australian academy, said upon arrival at the Zia International Airport that his knowledge of Bangladesh cricket is limited to what he has seen so far on television.

Harmer was appointed England women's coach in July 2001 and left them two years later having helped them to be the second best team in the world, behind Australia, whom he led to three World Cup finals in his eight years from 1992-2000. That included winning the World Cup in India in 1997, and he was made a finalist for Australian Coach of the Year Awards the following year.

His qualifications include Level 3 Australia Cricket coaching certificate, diploma of physical education, bachelor of education, secondary teacher's certificate, higher diploma of teaching.

He has published considerable research on biomechanics and coaching, including biomechanics in physical education in 1971, cricket biomechanics in 1989, bowling - techniques of error detection and correction in 1993 plus a CD on wicketkeeping, fielding and batting.

His previous appointments include sports science and medicine advisory group for the then ACB, national pace bowling program, sub-committee ACB, coach for pace Australia, consulting biomechanist for ACB, NZCB and Victorian Institute of Sport.

Lipu added that that Harmer's interview is likely to continue on Saturday.