DHAKA, April 11: Bangladesh's cricket chiefs have signed a two-year deal with world champions Australia to help them raise the standard of the game in the South Asian nation, an official said on Wednesday.

Cricket Australia will train Bangladeshi coaches, prepare a coaching manual, set up an umpires' management system and train young players at Australian academies, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) chief executive Mahmudur Rahman said.

“It will be a huge boost to our cricket and we hope our cricket will reach a higher level because of Australian help,” Rahman said, adding the BCB will pay Cricket Australia $427,500 for its services.

Under a previous five-year agreement that expired in 2006, young Bangladeshi cricketers had trained under Australian coaches.

Local experts credit Australian coaching for Bangladesh's recent improvement on the international stage.—AFP