Bangladesh retains Walsh as coach for Afghanistan series

Bangladesh has been without a head coach since Chandika Hathurusingha stepped down in October after three years at the helm.

Walsh has been called on before, leading Bangladesh to the final of a T20 tri-nations series in Sri Lanka in March which it narrowly lost to India.

Afghanistan will host Bangladesh for the three-match T20 series in the Indian city of Dehradun from June 3 to 7.

It will act as a warm-up for Afghanistan as it prepares for its first-ever Test against India in Bangalore from June 14.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board recently appointed former South African batsman and coach Gary Kirsten as a consultant to find a coach before a tour of the West Indies starting in July.

The board on Sunday appointed Walsh interim coach for the Afghanistan series. The former West Indies paceman said his side would keep its minds on the task at hand.

"We won't be thinking of losing and having a fear of losing. If we back ourselves, play good cricket, (we) will win," Walsh told reporters in Dhaka on Sunday.

"They are ahead of us in ranking in T20s, which is something we are mindful of. It will be a good contest. I am backing my team to do their job but we are not going to be complacent." Afghanistan is ranked eighth on the Twenty20 internationals ladder, two places ahead of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh, which named a full-strength squad for the series, departs for India on Monday.