The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed South African coach Malibongwe Maketa as the new assistant coach of the national men’s team. The 46-year-old replaces Mohammad Salahuddin, who recently moved into a new role as head of the BCB’s High Performance Unit.

Maketa has signed a contract that will run from October 2026 through November 2028, giving Bangladesh an experienced coach to work alongside head coach Phil Simmons and the rest of the support staff.

The South African coach is expected to join the Bangladesh setup in the United Arab Emirates, where the team will begin an important stretch of international cricket. Bangladesh are scheduled to play a one-off Test against Afghanistan before taking part in an ODI tri-series involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.

The appointment adds another experienced figure to Bangladesh’s coaching structure, particularly one with a strong background in developing young cricketers.

Maketa Brings Extensive Coaching Experience

Maketa arrives with more than 20 years of coaching experience across South African domestic cricket, international teams and high-performance programmes.

He is a Cricket South Africa Level 4-qualified coach and has worked with players at several stages of their careers. His previous assignments have included roles with the South Africa men’s national team, South Africa A, South Africa Under-19s and the National Academy.

He has also coached the Warriors franchise and worked at provincial level, giving him experience across all three formats of the game.

His coaching career has therefore involved both international cricket and player development, an area that could prove particularly valuable for Bangladesh’s current squad.

Maketa expressed his appreciation after accepting the position and said he was looking forward to working with the Bangladesh team.

“I am pleased to accept the position of assistant coach with the Bangladesh national team. I am truly grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the Bangladesh Cricket Board,” Maketa said.

He also highlighted the potential within Bangladesh’s squad and his desire to contribute to the development of the players.

Experience With South Africa

Maketa’s international coaching experience includes a significant period with the South African men’s national team.

He served as an assistant coach between 2017 and 2019 and was part of the coaching staff during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England.

During his time with the national team, South Africa recorded Test series victories against Australia and India. The coaching staff also played a role in bilateral series wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Working at the international level gave Maketa the opportunity to deal with some of the world’s leading players and teams. That experience will now be brought into the Bangladesh dressing room.

His previous exposure to high-pressure international cricket could be particularly useful as Bangladesh continue to develop a squad capable of competing consistently across formats.

Strong Focus on Player Development

One of the most notable aspects of Maketa’s career has been his involvement with emerging players.

He has served as head coach of South Africa A and South Africa Under-19, while also working with the National Academy. These roles required him to identify, prepare and develop players who were aiming to make the transition to senior international cricket.

That background aligns well with Bangladesh’s need to continue developing its next generation of players.

Maketa has already spoken about his excitement at working with a young Bangladesh team. He is expected to work closely with the players and coaching staff to help improve individual performances and support the team’s long-term development.

“I am looking forward to working alongside Phil and the rest of the coaching staff to help bring out the best in the players and support their continued development,” he said.

ALSO READ-Naman Dhir Replaces Washington Sundar

Success With South Africa Emerging

Maketa’s recent coaching record also includes success with South Africa’s emerging cricket programme.

He guided South Africa Emerging to the CSA One-Day Cup Division 2 title during the 2023-24 season. The achievement demonstrated his ability to work with developing players while also delivering results in competitive cricket.

His work at youth level produced another notable campaign when he guided South Africa to the semi-finals of the ICC Under-19 World Cup.

These experiences have given Maketa a broad understanding of player development, from academy cricket to international competition.

For Bangladesh, having a coach who has worked extensively with young players could be important as the national side continues to build depth.

New Challenge in Bangladesh

Maketa’s first assignment with Bangladesh will come quickly. He is expected to join the team in the UAE ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan.

The Test will be followed by an ODI tri-series featuring Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. The schedule will give Maketa an immediate opportunity to work with the squad across different formats.

The change in coaching staff also comes as Bangladesh continue to strengthen their support structure. Mohammad Salahuddin’s move to the High Performance Unit means Maketa will take over the assistant coach position at a time when the board is placing emphasis on both national-team performance and player development.

Working alongside Phil Simmons, Maketa will now be part of the coaching team responsible for preparing Bangladesh for upcoming international assignments.

A Familiar Role in a New Environment

Although this will be Maketa’s first coaching assignment with Bangladesh, the nature of the role is familiar to him.

He has previously worked as an assistant coach at international level and has also held senior positions in high-performance and development programmes.

His experience covers everything from youth cricket and emerging teams to franchise cricket and senior international cricket. That variety could allow him to contribute in several areas, including technical preparation, player development and match planning.

For Bangladesh’s younger players, his experience in helping emerging cricketers make the jump towards international cricket could be especially useful.

Contract Runs Until 2028

The BCB has handed Maketa a contract that will run until November 2028. The length of the agreement provides him with an opportunity to work on the team’s development over an extended period rather than focusing only on individual series.

His immediate responsibility will be to settle into the coaching group and prepare the team for its upcoming fixtures. Over the longer term, his experience with South Africa’s development programmes could become an important part of Bangladesh’s strategy for building a stronger player pipeline.

With international assignments across Tests and ODIs already lined up, Maketa will have little time to wait before beginning his work.

The appointment brings a coach with extensive international and developmental experience into the Bangladesh setup. His previous work with South Africa’s senior team, A side, Under-19s and National Academy provides him with a varied coaching background.

For Bangladesh, the hope will be that Maketa can combine that experience with the existing coaching structure and help the country’s young players take another step forward.

His journey with the Bangladesh national team now begins in the UAE, with the Afghanistan Test and the subsequent ODI tri-series providing his first opportunity to put his methods into practice.