The Bangladesh Cricket Board has officially appointed South African tactician Malibongwe Maketa as the assistant coach for the national men’s team. Maketa arrives to fill the vacancy left by Mohammad Salahuddin, who recently transitioned to lead the board’s High Performance Unit. The newcomer has secured a multi-year deal that keeps him with the national setup from October 2026 through November 2028.
Bringing over two decades of coaching expertise to the role, the 46-year-old holds a Level 4 qualification from Cricket South Africa. His tenure begins immediately, with plans to link up with the squad in the UAE ahead of their one-off Test match against Afghanistan, which will be followed by an ODI tri-series featuring Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. Expressing his enthusiasm, Maketa stated he is grateful for the board’s trust and is eager to support the development of what he describes as an exciting, young team, working alongside Phil Simmons and the current coaching staff. According to i am truly grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, and I look forward to contributing positively to the team’s success,”, Maketa in a statement.
Maketa’s extensive resume includes a stint as assistant coach for the South African senior men’s team from 2017 to 2019, a period that saw him assist during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup and contribute to successful Test series campaigns against major nations like Australia and India. His background also covers leadership roles with the Warriors franchise, South Africa A, and the national U19 team. Through his work at the National Academy and with emerging talent, he has focused heavily on bridging the gap between domestic and international cricket standards. Thank you once again for the opportunity.
Most recently, Maketa served as head coach for South Africa’s U19 side and their National Academy. His recent achievements include steering South Africa to the semi-finals of the ICC U19 World Cup and guiding the South Africa Emerging squad to the CSA One-Day Cup Division 2 title during the 2023-24 season. His multifaceted experience across various formats and development levels makes him a key addition to the Bangladesh cricket structure as they prepare for upcoming international challenges.
