Bangladesh spin consultant Sunil Joshi not to accompany team for Asia Cup

Bangladesh will not get the service of their spin consultant Sunil Joshi for the upcoming Asia Cup in September. The former Indian left-arm spinner has reportedly planned to stay back in India since he has been roped in by the National Cricket Academy (NCA). Two-time Asia Cup runners Bangladesh will play the first game of the tournament against former champions Sri Lanka in Dubai on September 15.

Joshi was hired by Bangladesh ahead of their home series against Australia in August last year after Sri Lankan Ruwan Kalpage left the job. They also tried to get former Australian leg-spinner Stuart McGill but the latter declined citing illness that’s when they roped in Joshi.

Joshi will be busy with NCA in India

“We have learnt that he will be working in National Cricket Academy (NCA) and if that is the case he is not available for us,” bdcrictime.com cited a Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official as saying.

Joshi, 48, played 15 Tests and 69 ODIs for India between 1996 and 2001 and has two international fifties and as many five-wicket hauls. His best ODI figure of five for six came against South Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1999. Joshi was also adjudged the man of the match in a Test against Bangladesh – their debut game – on Dhaka for an all-round performance.

Bangladesh started their preparation for the tournament on August 27. Six teams will participate in the tournament besides the Tigers, including holders India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and a qualifier. The tournament to decide the qualifier for the Asia Cup started in Malaysia on August 29.

Bangladesh finished as the runners-up twice in the tournament – both times on their own soil. While they lost by 2 runs to Pakistan in 2012, the Indian team thrashed them by 8 wickets in 2016 when the tournament was played in the 20-over format. Bangladesh also played hosts to the tournament for the last three editions.

The Tigers are clubbed with Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Group B while India, Pakistan and the still-to-be-decided qualifier are in Group A. Top two teams from both sides will advance to the Super Four stage from where the first two sides will reach the final.

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