Zimbabwe cricket legend Tatenda Taibu has been named assistant coach of the Bangladeshi-owned T10 franchise Bangla Tigers ahead of the Abu Dhabi T10 scheduled to be held from November 23 to December 4 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The tournament is being staged under the aegis of the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), with the official approval of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The Bangla Tigers confirmed Taibu’s appointment in a statement on their official social media platforms on Saturday.
“A legend from Zimbabwe who has led the side for an era is now a Tiger. We are delighted to announce Tatenta Taibu as the assistant coach for 6th season of T10,” the franchise said.
Taibu (38), joins a star studded Bangla Tigers coaching department which is headed by former Australia batsman Stuart Law.
Former England wicket-keeper batsman Paul Nixon is batting coach, while one of the game’s fastest bowlers, Shaun Tait of Australia is the bowling coach.
Premier all-rounder and Bangladesh Test and T20I captain, Shakib Al Hasan, was earlier appointed icon player and captain of the franchise.
The latest coaching appointment is another big step for the record-breaking former Zimbabwe cricket captain, Taibu who has been working at Bangladesh’s national sports academy as a batting and wicket keeping coach since last year
Thirty-eight-year-old Taibu, who has previously served as Zimbabwe’s chief selector is respected globally for his sound cricketing mind.
The Bangladesh Sports Institution of Sports Education – commonly known locally as the Bangladesh Krira Shikha Protishtan (BKSP) – is government-funded multi-sport centre known for producing some of the cricket-mad Asian country’s best players, including their national captain Al Hasan, one of the best all-rounders in the modern era of the game.
Taibu was previously based in Liverpool, England, where he has permanently settled with his family.