Former India left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi has been approached by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to take up the role of their spin consultant to help groom the likes of young Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam and the next pool of slow bowlers.
It is still not known whether it will be a short-term assignment or a long-term deal as Bangladesh are supposed to play a number of Test matches, including a series in Sri Lanka. According to reliable sources, senior BCB officials including former captain Akram Khan had sought Indian cricket team's chief coach Anil Kumble's suggestion on helping them hire a quality spin bowling coach.
India's highest wicket-taker had then suggested the name of his long time statemate Sunil Joshi, who is currently coaching the senior Assam side.
"Yes, Sunil was approached by BCB after Anil suggested his name. As things stand, there have been some preliminary discussions. Initially, there were talks that he (Joshi) will be with the team before the start of this Test and stay on since there was a window after Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy's zonal leg. But now there are talks of a long term deal. So Sunil is in Hyderabad to look at what kind of contract BCB is offering him," a source in the know of developments told PTI on Friday.
There is a chance that, Joshi, if the deal is inked, will travel with the team to Sri Lanka for the two-Test series. The wickets there would certainly assist the spinners.
However it is not known whether Bangladesh will require him at the end of the year when they travel to South Africa for a Test series. In between, there are talks of them hosting Australia.
"Since this Test match is over, Sunil will ideally like to complete his assignment with the Assam team. The Vijay Hazare Trophy is still left and after that he can be available if everything falls in place. Obviously, Kumble's words mean a lot to him and the Indian coach is very much in the loop about the developments," the source added.
Call it coincidence but it was Joshi who was man-of-the-match during the first ever Test match played on Bangladesh soil back in 2000.
It was Sourav Ganguly's debut as Test captain and Joshi had scored 92 and taken eight wickets in the match. Both his batting and bowling figures were his best in his 15-Test career.
Joshi has also played 69 ODIs.
His domestic record is of legendary proportions, having taken 615 wickets from 160 first-class games.
Image: India’s Sunil Joshi
Photograph: Clive Mason /Allsport/Getty Images