Hannan embraces underdog challenge with Duronto XI

Duronto XI coach Hannan Sarkar dismissed the notion that he prefers working only with inexperienced players on Wednesday, insisting that his coaching philosophy is rooted in embracing any challenge assigned by the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

Duronto XI are being viewed as underdogs due to their youthful makeup. Hannan clarified that team composition was not a personal choice.

“This is not my choice at all. The team is formed by the cricket board, and wherever they assign me, I work there,” he said. “It’s not that I want only seniors or only newcomers.”

The former Bangladesh opener pointed out that he has previously worked with top senior players in domestic cricket and the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), including Mushfiqur Rahim and Najmul Hossain Shanto, while also nurturing emerging talents.

“In Abahani, when we became champions, there were four senior-most players. In BPL also, we had a mix of seniors and young players,” Hannan noted.

However, the 43-year-old admitted that working with a largely young and promising group presents a different kind of challenge, one he enjoys.

“The fun of working with this kind of team is that the challenge is different,” the coach said. “I have worked with many of these players earlier as a selector, so my understanding with them is quite good.”

The former right-handed batter also added that his focus remains on extracting the best performance from the squad.

“Give me any team—I am not worried. After getting the team, making it perform is my responsibility. That is the challenge I enjoy.”