DHAKA, May 17: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has vowed to reverse Bangladesh’s cricketing fortunes after repeated defeats in Test and other matches, an official said here on Saturday.

“I honestly tried to point out specific areas where the ICC could render support to make Bangladesh more competitive as quickly as possible,” Andrew Eade, ICC’s Global Development Manager, said before leaving Dhaka at the end of a two-day visit.

“The ICC wants to bring about significant changes in terms of result-oriented progress in Bangladesh’s cricket within a short span of time,” he added.

Eade said the ICC would help whittle down lists for a chief executive officer of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and a high-profile coach for the under-19 team as well as assisting and monitoring strategic plans.

“We also want to help build a national training centre with modern facilities and to restart specialised training programmes and to lobby the Asian Cricket Council to fund development activities in Bangladesh,” he said.

Despite the general concern about the Bangladesh team’s poor performance, Eade said he was confident that the BCB’s present plans would help change the situation.

Some quarters have questioned the ICC’s decision to give Bangladesh Test status in 2000.

The minnows have lost 18 of 19 Tests since being admitted to the international fold, their only draw coming in a rain-hit tie against Zimbabwe two seasons ago.

They have also not won a One-day International in four years and exited the World Cup earlier this year without winning a match.

“Eade pointed out that there is a missing link between the grass-roots and top-level cricket in Bangladesh,” said BCB’s Mahboob Anam.

“We will work to mend this missing link.”

Bangladesh has armed itself with a new coach, Dav Whatmore, famous for guiding Sri Lanka to the 1996 World Cup triumph.—AFP