Bangladesh Cricket Board appoints Malibongwe Maketa as assistant coach

The Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed the appointment of Malibongwe Maketa as assistant coach of the men’s national team on Friday, October 2. The 46-year-old South African will serve in the role until November 2028, stepping into a position that had been vacated by Mohammad Salahuddin.

Salahuddin did not leave the BCB structure entirely; he was appointed to lead the board’s High Performance Unit. Maketa, who holds a Cricket South Africa Level 4 coaching qualification, brings over two decades of experience across multiple levels of the game to his new assignment.

“I am pleased to accept the position of assistant coach with the Bangladesh national team. 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 said in a statement as quoted by Cricbuzz.

What experience does Maketa bring to the Bangladesh coaching group?

Maketa’s coaching record spans several tiers of South African cricket. He has served as head coach of South Africa A, South Africa U19, the National Academy and the Warriors franchise, accumulating broad exposure across age-group and senior pathways. He also guided South Africa to the semi-finals of the ICC U19 World Cup, though the specific edition of that tournament remains unconfirmed in available evidence.

Between 2017 and 2019, Maketa was part of the South Africa senior coaching staff, a period that covered the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup held in England. During those two years, the coaching group contributed to Test series victories over Australia and India, and the team also claimed bilateral series wins against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

His most recent notable achievement came when he steered South Africa Emerging to the Division 2 title at the CSA One-Day Cup in the 2023-24 season, underlining his ability to develop and organise squads outside the senior international setup.

“We have a young and exciting team, and I am looking forward to working alongside Phil [Simmons] and the rest of the coaching staff to help bring out the best in the players and support their continued development. Thank you once again for the opportunity. I am excited to begin this journey and contribute to the Bangladesh National Team,” Maketa added.

Where will Maketa begin his duties and what fixtures await Bangladesh?

Maketa is set to link up with the Bangladesh squad in the United Arab Emirates, where the team has a busy schedule ahead. Bangladesh are scheduled to face Afghanistan in a one-off Test, and the UAE leg also features a three-nation ODI series that includes Afghanistan and Zimbabwe as the other two participants.

The back-to-back assignments mean Maketa enters an active international programme immediately rather than easing into the role during a quieter period. His appointment completes the current coaching group operating under head coach Phil Simmons ahead of the UAE tour.