Current Bangladesh A team head coach Jamie Siddons has often said how much he likes to work in Bangladesh. The Australian has previously served as the head coach of the national team from 2007-2011 and has been under contract with the Bangladesh Cricket Board since February 2022.
After Bangladesh A’s match in Sylhet, Siddons revealed that his children were infants when they made their way to Bangladesh.
Siddons had announced on Facebook that he would no longer work with the national team as he hoped to turn his attention to the next generation of players in development, particularly the pipeline of Bangladesh cricket and the players in and around the national team.
On 5 May, the 59-year-old posted a picture of his children, a son and a daughter, who were in their school uniform. He said that he missed them and was sad for not being able to see them off to school every day in Adelaide.
“Missing my kids’ first day in winter uniform at their new school today. #ilovecoaching but also sad not to see these guys off to school each day!! Growing up so fast,” he wrote.
Replies by Bangladesh fans flooded in, suggesting that Siddons might consider bringing his children to Bangladesh where they can attend school to which Siddons replied,” Both were in Bangladesh after they were born, and my girl was 3 when we left last time I was here. Both can’t wait to come and visit. Maybe they need honorary citizenship. .”
On last 22 May, the Australian coach cheekily brought up the idea of gaining honorary citizenship for his children so they could go to school in Bangladesh and stay with their dad at the same time while also pointing out that they could play for Bangladesh.
“It was a little bit tongue-in-cheek, having a bit of fun. The last time I was here, 13 years ago, they were born and came straight here. They were probably eight weeks old. They were here for two years, so maybe honorary citizenship would be good. Then they can play for Bangladesh.