Bangladesh cricket’s difficult 2025 has taken another tense turn, with assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin hitting back at speculation surrounding his role and influence ahead of the third T20I against Sri Lanka. A year marked by on-field struggles and off-field drama has only worsened during their ongoing tour of Sri Lanka, where they’ve already lost both the Test and ODI series, with just one T20I remaining.

Their string of defeats, including series losses to UAE, Pakistan, and Zimbabwe, has put the team under immense pressure. And now, tensions within the camp have become increasingly public. Salahuddin, who was appointed primarily as batting coach in November last year, found himself at the centre of controversy during a fiery pre-match press conference.

Responding to reports that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) may be seeking a new batting coach, Salahuddin spoke candidly. "My role in this team isn’t fixed permanently. If someone better comes along, it's good for the team," he said. “This team doesn’t belong to my father or grandfather.”

Bangladesh battles poor form and growing tensions ahead of the final match in Sri Lanka

While acknowledging his accountability for the team’s underwhelming batting performances over the past nine months, Salahuddin appeared most upset by suggestions that he’s exerting undue influence over team selection. With nearly three decades of experience and deep ties with several current players, he's faced accusations of favouritism, allegations he strongly denies.

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“After coaching for 27-28 years, suddenly I’m hearing there are many complaints. Let me see those in writing,” he said. “If changes are needed for the team’s benefit, I’ll be the first to step aside.”

The team’s internal issues have been simmering for weeks. Last month, Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto resigned from the role, claiming there were “too many captains” in the dressing room, a comment that revealed deeper leadership fractures. Currently, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz lead the T20I and ODI sides, respectively.

As Bangladesh prepares for the final match of their tour, the cricketing spotlight is firmly fixed not just on their performance, but on how and whether they can begin to heal their divided camp.

In a notable change, Bangladesh men’s cricket team will have Mohammad Salahuddin managing the batting department during their tour of the West Indies. The move comes as David Hemp, the team’s usual batting coach, is unavailable for the series.

Salahuddin’s appointment as Senior Assistant Coach

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed Mohammad Salahuddin as the senior assistant coach, a role that includes overseeing the batting responsibilities for the national team. This marks Salahuddin’s second stint with the team, and his contract will extend until March 15, 2025.

BCB’s new president, Faruque Ahmed, has embraced a policy shift by involving local coaches in prominent roles. Salahuddin’s wealth of experience makes him a natural fit for the role. His expertise will be tested in the Caribbean, as Bangladesh aims to improve their batting performance in challenging overseas conditions.

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David Hemp to resume HP Head Coach role

David Hemp, who transitioned from High Performance (HP) head coach to the national team’s batting coach, did not travel to the West Indies. Currently in Bangladesh, Hemp is expected to return to his original position as HP head coach.

According to BCB cricket operations in-charge Shahriar Nafees, “Hemp is not part of the team as we have appointed Mohammad Salahuddin as senior assistant coach. He will look after our batting.”

New performance analyst for the tour

In another strategic move, BCB has appointed Akshay Hiremath from India as the performance analyst for the West Indies tour. Hiremath replaces Mohsin Sheikh and brings fresh insights to Bangladesh’s preparation and performance evaluation.

BCB’s recent decisions highlight a shift toward integrating local expertise and refining team support structures. With Salahuddin in charge of batting and Hiremath joining as the performance analyst, the Bangladesh team is gearing up for a promising campaign in the Caribbean.

The West Indies tour will not only test the team’s adaptability but also the effectiveness of these new appointments in shaping Bangladesh cricket’s future trajectory.