BCB appoints South Africa's Malibongwe Maketa as Bangladesh assistant coach
Synopsis
The BCB has turned to South Africa's Malibongwe Maketa — a former Proteas assistant coach with World Cup experience — to bolster Bangladesh's coaching staff ahead of a packed two-year window that includes a Test against Afghanistan, an ODI tri-series, a full tour of South Africa, and the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup.
Key Takeaways
The BCB appointed Malibongwe Maketa of South Africa as Bangladesh senior men's assistant coach on 2 October 2026 .
The contract runs from October 2026 to November 2028 , covering the build-up to the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup .
Maketa, 46 , replaces Mohammad Salahuddin , who moves to head the BCB High Performance Unit .
He previously served as Proteas assistant coach from 2017 to 2019 , including the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup .
Maketa will join the squad in the UAE for a one-off Test and ODI tri-series involving Afghanistan and Zimbabwe .
Bangladesh's upcoming all-format bilateral tour of South Africa starts mid-November .
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Friday, 2 October 2026 confirmed the appointment of South Africa's Malibongwe Maketa as assistant coach of the Bangladesh senior men's cricket team on a two-year contract running from October 2026 to November 2028. The 46-year-old brings over two decades of coaching experience spanning domestic, international, and high-performance cricket in South Africa.
Who Maketa Replaces
Maketa steps into the role vacated by Mohammad Salahuddin, who was recently reassigned to head the BCB's High Performance Unit. Salahuddin is currently with the Bangladesh squad, which is set to face Sri Lanka in the Asian Games men's T20 bronze medal game at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, on Saturday.
Maketa's Credentials and Background
A Cricket South Africa (CSA) Level 4-qualified coach, Maketa previously served as assistant coach of the South Africa (Proteas) men's team from 2017 to 2019, a stint that included the 2019 ICC Men's ODI World Cup campaign in England. During that period, the Proteas coaching setup — of which he was a part — secured home Test series wins against Australia and India, as well as bilateral series victories over Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
In a lengthy domestic coaching career, Maketa has served as head coach of South Africa A, South Africa U19, the National Academy, and the Warriors franchise. Most recently, he guided the South Africa Emerging side to the CSA One-Day Cup Division 2 title in the 2023/24 season and coached the South Africa U19 team to the semi-finals of the ICC U19 Men's World Cup.
What Maketa Said
'I am pleased to accept the position of assistant coach with the Bangladesh national team. I am truly grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, and I look forward to contributing positively to the team's success,' Maketa said in an official statement.
He added: 'We have a young and exciting team, and I am looking forward to working alongside Phil (Simmons) and the rest of the coaching staff to help bring out the best in the players and support their continued development. Thank you once again for the opportunity. I am excited to begin this journey and contribute to the Bangladesh National Team.'
Immediate Assignments and Road Ahead
Maketa is set to link up with the Bangladesh squad in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ahead of an upcoming assignment featuring a one-off Test against Afghanistan, followed by an ODI tri-series against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. His input will also be critical as Bangladesh prepare for an all-format bilateral tour of South Africa beginning mid-November, which in turn feeds into the broader build-up to the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup.
Point of View
And a two-year contract only delivers value if the board allows the staff to build without mid-cycle interference.
NationPress
3 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Malibongwe Maketa and why has BCB appointed him?
Malibongwe Maketa is a 46-year-old CSA Level 4-qualified South African coach appointed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board as assistant coach of the senior men's team on 2 October 2026. He was chosen for his two-decade coaching record, which includes a stint as Proteas assistant coach during the 2019 ICC ODI World Cup cycle.
How long is Maketa's contract with Bangladesh?
Maketa's contract runs for two years, from October 2026 to November 2028, covering major assignments including a tour of South Africa and the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup.
Who did Maketa replace as Bangladesh's assistant coach?
Maketa replaces Mohammad Salahuddin, who was reassigned to lead the BCB's High Performance Unit. Salahuddin is currently travelling with the Bangladesh team for the Asian Games T20 tournament in Japan.
What is Bangladesh's next cricket assignment?
Bangladesh are scheduled to play a one-off Test against Afghanistan followed by an ODI tri-series against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, with Maketa expected to join the squad in the UAE ahead of those matches.
What major upcoming tours will Maketa be involved in?
Maketa is set to play a key role in Bangladesh's all-format bilateral tour of South Africa starting mid-November 2026 and in preparations for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup.
