In the realm of Bangladesh cricket, the disparity in coaching salaries is stark. Chandika Hathurusingha, the head coach of the national team, is at the pinnacle with a monthly remuneration surpassing TK 3.5 million. This figure stands in contrast to the modest earnings of local coaches, who, even after recent salary revisions, range from a minimum of TK 25,000 to a maximum of nearly TK 300,000.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) shoulders a hefty financial burden when hiring foreign coaches for the national squad. At present, the coaching staff's lowest salary belongs to Australian trainer Nathan Kelly, drawing a monthly pay of around TK 950,000. Such salaries make the coaching roles quite attractive.
In contrast, the picture within domestic cricket diverges significantly. The BCB oversees 95 coaches across various levels, including district, division, and central. These coaches are divided into four salary bands, with the lowest previously earning between Tk 14,000 to 15,000 per month and the highest around TK 130,000.
Since Chandika Hathurusingha's reinstatement as head coach early last year, Bangladesh has participated in two major World Cups—the 2023 ODI World Cup in India and the T20 World Cup this year in North America. Hathurusingha was expected to guide the team to at least the semi-finals in the ODI World Cup. However, the campaign turned out to be one of Bangladesh's most disappointing performances under his guidance. The T20 World Cup also failed to deliver much excitement, with only sporadic match-winning performances from the bowling lineup.
Despite these lacklustre performances, Hathurusingha's position appears to be stable.
His role, much like the BCB's stance, seems to require minimal accountability. This situation raises questions about the effectiveness of the high salary paid to him in comparison to the results produced on the international stage.
A recent decision by the BCB's board, made during their last meeting on July 2, has led to an overhaul of the salary structure. Coaches have been reclassified into four distinct categories, accompanied by a salary increment. Post-hike, the minimum wage for a coach will be about TK 25,000, with the upper limit nearing TK 300,000. Yet, it's worth noting that only a select few coaches earn between two to three hundred thousand Taka. These high-profile local coaches are generally tasked with responsibilities pertaining to the national team and other teams and training camps under the BCB's purview.
Fahim Sinha, Vice Chairman of the BCB's Game Development Division, in conversation with the media, remarked, "We've been intent on rectifying the coaches' grading and pay scales for quite some time. The remuneration at the district level was notably insufficient. With the new grading system, we've managed to implement a deserved pay raise." He further indicated that future assessments of coaches would be performance-based, "We're developing a KPI system. By observing the evaluation methods of coaches by other cricket boards, we aim to establish a similar KPI framework for our coaches."
