Jennings declines offer to coach Bangladesh cricket team

Johannesburg, May 11 (UNI) Former coach Ray Jennings' ''South African heart and soul'' forced him to turn down the offer to coach the Bangladesh team, preferring to accept a two-year contract from Cricket South Africa (CSA) instead.

Jennings, also a former Proteas wicket-keeper, confirmed that he had been approached by the Bangladesh Cricket Board but he declined the oppurtunity because he is ''a South African in heart and soul''.

Jennings said ''They called me shortly after the World Cup tournament and asked whether I would be interested in the position.'' Terming the offer as a great honour he said, ''It is an honour to be approached by such an up-and-coming cricket country but I am a South African through and through and this is where my heart is.'' ''It would have been a great challenge to coach the Bangladesh team, '' he said in a web portal but felt he had a bigger role to play in South Africa by bringing young talent to the fore.

The former cricketer opted for a two-year contract from CSA to be involved at the national cricket academy and to coach the South African Under-19 team.

UNI