Former Sri Lanka pacer Chaminda Vaas, who has over 700 international wickets to his name, has recently revealed that he had been involved in talks with the Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB] for coaching job in 2016. However, BCB then decided to rope in Courtney Walsh as the bowling coach.

Vaas is currently coaching Sri Lanka’s U-19 side. In an interview with The Daily Star, he talked about his desire to give something back to the game while also talking about Bangladesh national team and its performance.

Regarding the coaching job, Vaas said, “There were some talks during 2016 between me and the BCB, but later I got to know that they have taken Courtney Walsh as the bowling coach. But I always want to give my service to whoever wants to have that and I would love to give something back to cricket; that's why I am working with the Under-19 team here in Sri Lanka.”

The 44-year-old also talked about one of his best performances in the World Cup which came against Bangladesh in 2003. In that match, the Lankan quick took 4 wickets in the first 5 deliveries of the game to strangle the Bangladesh batting line-up.

However, Vaas considered himself lucky and gave credit to the fielders while talking about that incident.

He said, “You can't plan everything and take wickets like that. Your ultimate goal in the world cup is to try and get early wickets. I was lucky that everything went well and obviously the fielders also took brilliant catches.”

The Sri Lanka bowling legend has seen the early playing days of Bangladesh when they were emerging as a Test playing nation. While comparing that side to the kind of team Bangladesh have now become, Chaminda Vaas appreciated the efforts that the young team now put in.

“In those days, Bangladesh just started playing cricket but nowadays Bangladesh are a very competitive side and not an easy team to beat. They have valued most of the players and they are giving their hundred percent and want to achieve heights. They want to perform for the country and are a young side as well,” he stated.

Vaas also talked about Mustafizur Rahman and gave instructions on how the pacer can get back to his old self again.

“Mustafizur is a good bowler and when he joined the Bangladesh team he started really well and took a lot of wickets. But with the amount of cricket played these days -- T20s, IPL, Big Bash, Test cricket and fifty-over format -- fitness is very important for a fast bowler.

“I think he will be able to get back soon and should watch some videos of when he was doing really well. And I am sure he will be able to come up and do really well for Bangladesh.”

“Like I said discipline, is the bridge whatever goal you want to accomplish. I have always maintained discipline and I am very honest about my job. I never cut my training and fitness as I always believed that fitness is the number one priority for a fast bowler,” said Vaas, when asked about his secret behind an injury-free career.