Sports Reporter :
The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) suspended Chandika Hathurusinga as head coach of Bangladesh Cricket team. Phil Simmons will act as interim head coach of Bangladesh Cricket team.
The West Indian-born coach will serve as head coach of Bangladesh Cricket team for temporary basis. President of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Faruque Ahmed acknowledged at his first press conference that he has been seeking a new head coach as an alternative of Chandika Hathurusigha.
After former BCB boss Nazmul Hassan Papon fled from the country due to peoples’ and students’ revolution on August 5, Faruque Ahmed told the newsmen that the BCB had searching an alternative coach of Chandika Hathurusingha.
But Bangladesh National Cricket team gained a maiden historic two-Test series victory over Pakistan at the ground of Pakistan recently, the officials of BCB including BCB President Faruque Ahmed forgot the issue of Hathurusingha.
Later, Bangladesh Cricket team tasted a two-Test series defeat against India and also lost 3-0 in the three-match T20I series against India. Thus, the President of the BCB Faruque Ahmed decided to suspend Hathurusingha from his post. Besides, Faruque Ahmed also issued a show cause notice to the Sri Lanka-born former head coach of Bangladesh Cricket team.
Yesterday Faruque Ahmed at a press conference held at the Conference Room of Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in the capital’s Mirpur confirmed that the BCB suspended Chandika Hathurusingha from his post and also issued a show cause notice. Faruque Ahmed also announced Phil Simmons will act as the interim head coach of Bangladesh Cricket team for the upcoming two-match Test series of South Africa Cricket team against Bangladesh Cricket team at the different venues of Bangladesh.
Phil Simmons has been appointed head coach of Bangladesh Cricket team until next year’s Champions Trophy.
Faruque Ahmed said, ” There are some complications of law, so BCB first suspended Hathurusigha and also issued a show cause notice to the Sri Lankan coach. Later, the BCB will sack him from his post. Faruque Ahmed also confirmed that it is a matter of time to dismiss Hathurusingha.”
Faruque Ahmed said, ” We tried to keep him for the post of head coach. But he made some mistakes. Hathurusingha took leisure without our permission and there is a allegation that he physically assaulted a player of Bangladesh National Cricket team. It were worst examples. So, we suspended him and then, we shall sack him.”
Hathusingha was the head coach of Bangladesh Cricket team from 2024 to 2017 for his first tenure. But suddenly Hathurusingha left his post.
Later, he acknowledged to the BCB that he left his post as he had got a offer from Sri Lanka Cricket to be the head coach of Sri Lanka and he accepted the offer and became the head coach of Sri Lanka Cricket team. He was also sacked by Sri Lanka Cricket.
Then, Hathurusingha became the Head Coach of Bangladesh Cricket Board for his second tenure from 2023. He drew US$ 35 Thousand per month as his monthly salary from Bangladesh Cricket Board. He contracted with BCB until February of 2025. But his chapter was closed before the contract.