Maketa Replaces Salahuddin on Coaching Panel
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed South Africa’s Malibongwe Maketa as the new assistant coach of the national cricket team on a two-year contract. The 46-year-old coach replaces Mohammad Salahuddin and will serve from October 2026 through November 2028. Mr. Maketa will join the Bangladesh squad in the United Arab Emirates, where the team is scheduled to play a lone Test against Afghanistan starting October 9. This will be followed by an ODI tri-series featuring Afghanistan and Zimbabwe beginning October 17, thrusting him straight into action amidst a busy schedule.
A Level-4 certified coach by Cricket South Africa, Mr. Maketa brings over two decades of coaching experience. He served as the assistant coach for the South Africa national team from 2017 to 2019, including a stint as part of the coaching staff during the 2019 ICC World Cup. His tenure featured notable Test series victories over Australia and India.
Mr. Maketa has also coached South Africa ‘A’, the Under-19 team, the National Cricket Academy, and the domestic franchise Warriors. Most recently, he served as the head coach of the South Africa U-19 team. His track record in nurturing young talent and preparing them for the international stage is seen as a key asset for the Bangladesh coaching setup.
According to Cricinfo, Mr. Maketa’s appointment comes with an eye on Bangladesh’s upcoming tour of South Africa and preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Bangladesh is set to travel to South Africa in mid-November for a full-fledged series comprising Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, where the BCB aims to leverage Maketa’s deep familiarity with local conditions.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the role, Mr. Maketa stated that he looks forward to working with Bangladesh’s promising young talent and collaborating with head coach Phil Simmons and the rest of the coaching staff to bring out the best in the players. Meanwhile, outgoing assistant coach Mohammad Salahuddin has transitioned to managing BCB’s High Performance Unit. He is currently with the Bangladesh squad at the Asian Games and will oversee the team in their bronze medal match against Sri Lanka on Saturday.
