Former India cricketer Joshi to help Bangladesh spinners

Dhaka, Bangladesh: Bangladesh’s cricket board announced on Tuesday that former Indian spinner Sunil Joshi was appointed as their team’s spin consultant after Australian Stuart MacGill turned down the coaching gig.

Joshi, a left-arm spinner, will join the squad as a bowling coach ahead of their first Test against Australia starting this Sunday in Dhaka.

The board had hoped to reel in MacGill for insight into Australia’s bowling attack, ahead of their first tour of Bangladesh in more than a decade.

But officials said MacGill, a former right-arm leg spin bowler who took 208 wickets in 44 Tests for Australia, declined the offer for personal reasons.

The spin bowling job had been vacant since Ruwan Kalpage, a former Sri Lankan player, left last year.

Joshi will stay for two months and also join Bangladesh for their tour of South Africa.