Less than a year after taking charge as Bangladesh’s pace bowling coach, former Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait is reportedly exploring the possibility of moving into a coaching role with an Indian state team. According to Indian media reports, Tait is interested in joining Bengal’s coaching set-up and has already appeared for an interview with the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB).
A report by The India stated that Tait attended an interview conducted by a panel comprising Arun Lal, Devang Gandhi and Kalyan Choudhury. The panel subsequently recommended Tait for a coaching position. It also suggested the inclusion of former India selector Surendra Bhave in the coaching structure.
However, despite the recommendation, CAB has reportedly become uncertain about appointing Tait. The development comes as the association reviews its coaching plans for Bengal’s domestic teams.
The tenure of Bengal’s current head coach, Laxmi Ratan Shukla, had come to an end. Nevertheless, CAB, led by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, opted to maintain continuity within the coaching framework. As a result, Shukla was reappointed as head coach on Wednesday.
Under Shukla’s guidance, Bengal have produced respectable performances in the Ranji Trophy. In his first season in charge during the 2022–23 campaign, Bengal finished as runners-up. The team also reached the semi-finals in the most recent edition of the tournament, although they were unable to convert those opportunities into a title.
Bengal’s Recent Ranji Trophy Results
| Season | Result |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Runners-up |
| Most Recent Edition | Semi-finalists |
Tait has been credited with making a positive contribution to Bangladesh’s pace-bowling department during his time with the national team. His work with young fast bowler Nahid Rana has been particularly notable. Nahid recently played an important role in Bangladesh’s home Test series victory against Pakistan, a performance that further highlighted the development of the country’s fast-bowling resources.
Despite having a contract with Bangladesh Cricket that runs until the World Cup scheduled for September next year, Tait is reportedly considering leaving the role significantly before the end of that agreement.
According to The Telegraph, a source within Bangladesh cricket indicated that Tait is not in agreement with one or two members of the coaching staff. The report suggested that these differences may be one of the reasons discussions between Tait and CAB have continued.
A CAB source said that the possibility of appointing Tait as the state’s pace-bowling coach cannot yet be ruled out. The role would involve overseeing pace-bowling development across all age-group teams rather than working solely with the senior side.
Financial considerations are also understood to be influencing CAB’s decision-making process. According to the same source, recruiting a coach of Tait’s profile could require an expenditure of around INR 20 million or more. The potential cost has reportedly contributed to the association’s hesitation over a possible appointment.
For now, discussions remain ongoing, and no formal announcement has been made regarding either Tait’s future with Bangladesh or any prospective role with Bengal.