MacGill target for Bangladesh coach gig

Bangladesh are seeking to recruit former Australia leg-spinner Stuart MacGill as the country's spin bowling coach for the country's impending Test series against Australia and South Africa.

Australia are expected to play their first Test in the subcontinent nation since 2006 in Dhaka in late August, with a second in Chittagong in early September, although the tour is currently under a cloud amidst the ongoing pay dispute.

Bangladesh then face a tour to South Africa, with two Tests, three ODIs and two T20 internationals scheduled. It will be the Bangladesh team's first visit to South Africa in nine years.

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan confirmed MacGill was the Bangladeshis' "preferred" target to come on board and mentor the country's spin bowlers following a board meeting in Mirpur over the weekend.

Nazmul said no deal had been finalised, but they were offering a short-term contract that would include the series against Australia and South Africa.

"Short-term contracts will help us assess the performance of the coach," Nazmul told reporters in Mirpur.

"It also helps the concerned coach to get an idea about us."

Quick Single: Walsh helping 'Fizz' back to the fast lane

MacGill played 44 Tests for Australia in an era when Shane Warne was an automatic first XI selection, taking 208 wickets at 29.02.

He took 17 wickets in two Tests against Bangladesh in a "Top-End Tour" in Darwin and Cairns in 2003, and another 16 wickets in two Tests in 2006, the last time Australia toured to face Bangladesh in Tests.

Former Sheffield Shield player and renowned batting coach Mark O'Neill has also been hired by Bangladesh on a short-term deal.

O'Neill played 76 first-class matches for Western Australia in his playing days and has since held coaching roles with New South Wales, New Zealand and Middlesex before joining Bangladesh.

“He is good and during his short stint we expect him to work with the lower-order of our batting which has not been doing well,” Nazmul said.

The Tigers had appointed West Indies great Courtney Walsh to their support staff on a long-term deal until the 2019 World Cup and the iconic fast bowler has been working closely with Bangladesh star Mustafizur Rahman.

"It is too early to say anything apart from the fact that he is responding very well in the training sessions," Walsh told Cricbuzz after a one-on-one session with Mustafizur.

"We are trying to make him bowl (from) close to the wicket but that is not the only thing as we are trying some other stuff as well."