The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed David Hemp as the new head coach of the Bangladesh women’s cricket team on a two-year contract, following disappointing campaigns in both the Women’s Asia Cup and the 2026 Asian Games.
The appointment marks Hemp’s return to the national setup after previously working with the side as batting coach. He replaces Sarwar Imran, while Bulbul Bashar has been named the new team manager following the departure of Faiyaz.
Bangladesh Begin a New Chapter
The coaching reshuffle comes after Bangladesh failed to win a medal at the 2026 Asian Games, losing to Pakistan in the bronze-medal playoff after claiming bronze at the previous edition.
Hemp is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on October 1 before linking up with the squad in Brisbane ahead of the three-match ODI series against Australia, which begins on October 9. His contract will run until September 2028.
Bangladesh’s 16-member squad will depart for Australia on October 3 following a short domestic training camp.
Familiar Face Returns
Hemp is no stranger to Bangladesh women’s cricket.
Earlier this year, he served as batting coach during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Nepal and was also part of the coaching staff during the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier in Pakistan in 2025.
Since joining the Bangladesh Cricket Board in May 2023 as High Performance head coach, Hemp has also worked with the men’s national team, taking over as batting coach in 2024 after assisting during Bangladesh’s tour of New Zealand in 2023.
The former Bermuda international also brings extensive women’s cricket experience, having coached Pakistan Women between 2020 and 2022 while previously working with Victoria Women and Melbourne Stars in Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League.
Australia Tour Presents Major Challenge
Hemp acknowledged the scale of the task awaiting Bangladesh in Australia, where they will face the world’s top-ranked women’s team in both ODI and T20I cricket.
He believes, however, that competing against the strongest opposition will provide valuable lessons for the squad.
“Australia tour is a huge challenge because statistically they’re the number one side in the world. But it’s also a really good opportunity. You want to play against the best players because you want to be tested.”
Hemp added that the series will help Bangladesh assess their current level while identifying areas for future improvement.
Focus on Unity and Consistency
Recent months have brought significant changes within Bangladesh women’s cricket, including the departure of former head coach Sarwar Imran and Nigar Sultana Joty stepping down as T20I captain following the Asian Games.
Rather than dwelling on past issues, Hemp said his priority is creating a united environment.
“The most important thing is that everyone is on the same page, moving forward together and improving day by day.”
Having previously worked with many members of the squad, Hemp believes Bangladesh possess more quality than their current world ranking suggests.
He praised the team’s atmosphere and stressed that improving consistency will be the key objective during his tenure.
Eyes on the Future
Bangladesh begin their new era with a demanding assignment in Australia as part of the ICC Women’s Championship.
The three-match ODI series will provide Hemp with his first opportunity to evaluate the squad in competitive conditions before guiding the team through the next two years as they target improved performances on the international stage.
