Stuart MacGill turns down Bangladesh spin-coaching role

Melbourne [Australia], August 17 (ANI): Former Test spinner Stuart MacGill has rejected Bangladesh offer to join the side ahead of two-Test series against Australia.

A senior official of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed this on Thursday.

BCB president Nazmul Hasan had last month said that MacGill was their "first choice for the spin-bowling coach". MacGill was offered the role initially for a period of three months.

And with the Test series against Australia just days away, Bangladesh were hoping to get some inside knowledge from the former leg-spinner.

MacGill, who took 208 wickets in 44 Tests, was expected to join another Australian, Mark O'Neill, on the Bangladesh backroom staff for the tour by the world number four-ranked nation.

"You know that our president (Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan) already cleared it that Stuart MacGill was our first choice as spin bowling coach," cricket.com.au quoted BCB chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury as saying.

"(But) for some of his personal reasons he cannot join the team at the moment," he added.

Chowdhury further said that they will now have talks with their second or third option for the role of spin-bowling coach.

Spin coach's position has been lying vacant since last year after Ruwan Kalpage's resignation.

Former India spinner Venkatapathy Raju has, however, worked as a consultant.

Earlier this year, there were talks between Sunil Joshi and the BCB but the talks didn't materialise.

The first Test between Bangladesh and Australia will be played from August 27 at Dhaka, followed by the second Test beginning September 4 at Chittagong. (ANI)