The West Indies parted ways with coach Ottis Gibson, just a day ahead of a home one-day series against Bangladesh. The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) said the two sides “mutually agreed to terminate their association” with team manager Richie Richardson stepping in as interim coach. No reason was given for the departure of Gibson, who had been in charge since 2010 and led the West Indies to the World Twenty20 title in 2012.

However, West Indies are currently eighth in the Test rankings, the lowest among the established nations, eighth in the one-day rankings and seventh in the Twenty20 rankings.

The Bangladesh series comes as the West Indies build up to the one-day World Cup early next year. Ex-captain Clive Lloyd was named head of a new-look selection panel earlier this month. “On behalf of the Board and West Indies cricket as a whole we express our gratitude to Ottis for his work,” West Indies Cricket Board chief executive officer Michael Muirhead said in a statement.

The WICB thanked Gibson for his “unwavering committment” in his role as head coach, a position he occupied for four years and for which he had signed a contract extension only last year that would have taken him to 2016.

It is believed that Mickey Arthur, the former South Africa and Australia head coach, is favourite for the job. Arthur, a South African, coached the Jamaica Tallawahs during the second season of the Caribbean Premier League T20 franchise tournament which ended last Saturday in St Kitts. Speculation over Gibson’s status ignited on Monday when he was absent from the West Indies team’s training session, and again on Tuesday.

Haque ton takes Bangladesh to 217

ST. GEORGE’S: A century by opening batsman Anamul Haque anchored Bangladesh to 217/9 off 50 overs in the first ODI against the West Indies at the National Stadium on Wednesday. The 21-year-old cracked 11 fours and a six in his 109 to lift the visitors after they were sent in by the hosts at the start of the three-match series. Anamul, who struck his third century at this level, shared an opening stand of 41 with Tamim Iqbal, who contributed 26, and a sixth wicket partnership of 53 with Nasir Hossain, who also chipped in with 26. Captain Dwayne Bravo took 4-32 for the West Indies.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 217/9 in 50 overs (A Haque 109; D Bravo 4/32).