Hannan Sarkar has stepped down from his role as a national team selector after serving for one year. Having spent a long tenure as a selector at the age-group level, Hannan is now looking to transition into coaching.

As reports of his resignation spread early in the day, Hannan Sarkar addressed the media from his residence, sharing the reasoning behind his decision and his future aspirations. He stated, "After returning from the U19 World Cup in South Africa last year (2024), I had already planned to shift towards coaching. I even sent a letter to BCB, and things were almost finalized. But then came the offer to be a national team selector, and I thought—since I had already served eight years as a junior selector, why not take up the national role? Now, after a year, I realize this is not a long-term career. At best, I could serve four or five years before having to move on. Instead of making that decision later, I am making it now."

Hannan further emphasized that, despite the prestige of being a national selector, he wanted to contribute more actively to on-field cricket rather than staying in an office. "Being a national selector is a prestigious role, but holding onto it for too long isn't ideal. If I continue for years, that prestige might fade. I strongly believe that I can excel in coaching. As a selector, I have already worked closely with players. Now, I feel I can make a bigger impact by being directly involved in cricket rather than sitting in an air-conditioned room."

Hannan intends to begin his coaching career in the Dhaka Premier League (DPL). He revealed that he is already in talks with three teams but is yet to make a final decision. "I want to start with the Premier League. I’m having discussions with three teams, but I haven’t finalized anything yet. I will carefully choose a strong team because returning to coaching after a long time requires strategic planning."

He also hinted at the possibility of working with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) as a coach, stating, "I would love to work under BCB. If the board believes in me, we can have discussions. If not, I will have to look for opportunities elsewhere. Since I’m still a selector until the end of this month, I hope to finalize my next step soon."

Hannan acknowledged that BCB’s perspective on local coaches has changed, especially after the appointment of Mohammad Salahuddin as the senior assistant coach of the national team. "BCB is now valuing local coaches more than before, which is a great sign. If I can work under the board, I hope to contribute positively. Just like a player dreams of representing the national team, a coach also aspires to work at the highest level. But for that, I must first prepare myself thoroughly."

Reflecting on his time as a selector, Hannan Sarkar considers the 2020 U19 World Cup victory as one of his biggest achievements. "One of the greatest achievements of Bangladesh cricket is the 2020 U19 World Cup win, and I am proud to have been a part of that journey. Also, under my selection, Bangladesh won its first-ever U19 Asia Cup title. These are moments of immense satisfaction."

Hannan has resigned with a one-month notice and will continue in his role until the end of February 2025.