England hunt for new women's head coach

England will revamp their women’s coaching structure ahead of next year’s Women’s World T20, with current mentor Paul Shaw to step down at the end of 2015.

Shaw had been Head of England Women’s Performance since 2013, but ECB Director of England Women’s Cricket Clare Connor said the coaching role would move back to a more traditional ‘head coach’ role from next year.

She said the move reflected the growing professionalism in the women’s game in England.

"When Paul was appointed to the new role of Head of England Women’s Performance in 2013, it was at a stage when professionalism of the England women’s team was imminent," Connor said. 

"His strategic planning, long term vision and relationship management have been instrumental in guiding the program through this transition.

"The women’s game is now fully professional and the decision to move back to a more traditional coaching structure, led by one overarching head coach, ideally with first class or international playing or coaching experience, is what we believe is now needed to take the players to the next level in their development as professional cricketers."

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Shaw was appointed to the role in June 2013, having been involved with the England women’s cricket since 2008. 

During his time with the team, he oversaw series victories against Pakistan, the West Indies, India, South Africa and New Zealand, and most memorably, back-to-back Women’s Ashes wins in 2013 and 2014.

Under Shaw’s guidance, England claimed back-to-back Ashes wins in 2013 and 2013-14 and made the final of the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh.

"The England women’s performance program has evolved into a world class set-up over the past few years," Shaw said.

"With this in mind, I believe it is now time to step aside and give someone else the opportunity to take the programme and the team onto the next level, as I look to take on my next challenge."

 The new coach’s first task will be to play South Africa in three one-day internationals and three Twenty20s in February, ahead of the World T20 in India in March.

England captain Charlotte Edwards paid tribute to Shaw, praising his support and guidance.

"A lot has changed within England women’s cricket in recent times and Paul should take a huge amount of credit for how he has translated these changes into a world class performance environment for the players on the field.

"We are now all really looking forward to a big 2016, which includes tours to South Africa, the West Indies and Sri Lanka, the ICC Women’s World T20 and a home series against Pakistan, as we continue to build towards the 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup here in England."

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s women’s team will go ahead with a series in Pakistan after receiving assurances about security, becoming the first Bangladesh side to tour their neighbour since a 2009 attack.

Captain Salma Khatun said the 15-member squad was looking forward to playing two Twenty20 internationals and two one-day internationals in the southern Pakistan city of Karachi.

"There is no pressure on us to go to Pakistan and we are going on our own," allrounder Khatun said.

"After the last Asian Games (in 2014) we have not played any matches, so we are eager to play some competitive cricket," she said.

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No international cricket matches were played in Pakistan between 2009 and 2015 after a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team's bus in Lahore in March 2009.

The country's six-year isolation ended when the Zimbabwe men's side toured Pakistan in May-June this year for two Twenty20 internationals and three one-day matches.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) only agreed to send the women's team last week after a delegation visited Pakistan and conducted a security assessment.

"We were promised that the team would be given VVIP security, like the ones usually given to the president or the prime minister of a country," team manager Shafiqul Haque said.

The first Twenty20 will be played on Wednesday.