BCB Suspends Head Coach Hathurusinghe with immediate effect: Report

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has suspended the Men's Head Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe on disciplinary grounds. With this suspension of 48 hours, he will be terminated immediately as well. Former West Indies Cricketer Phil Simons has been announced as interim coach till the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

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Hathurusinghe returned for his second stint as Bangladesh coach in February last year. His first stint as the coach was from 2014 to 2017. BCB president Faruque Ahmed said, "Hathurusinghe is facing two misconduct charges. One is for assaulting a player, and the other is for taking more leave than allowed in his contract."

Chandika Hathurusinghe's Second Stint as Men's Head Coach

Bangladesh team had underwhelming performances under Hathurusinghe in the 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup where they failed to win a single game in the Super 8 stage. Bangladesh's T20 World Cup performance was also sub-par, with many questioning Hathurusinghe's decision-making in the Super Eight game against Afghanistan. Well as compared to his first stint as the head coach which was better as the national team improved a lot, especially in white-ball cricket, with a strong performance in the 2017 Champions Trophy, earning automatic qualification for the 2019 ODI World Cup.

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BCB President Faruque Ahmed On Chandika Hathurusinghe

In his first press conference as BCB President, Ahmed said "Chandika Hathurusinghe should no longer continue as the head coach." He further added, "It was a real blunder to bring back Hathurusinghe for a second stint. He had left us in trouble the last time he left the job [in 2017]. Bangladesh was a stepping stone for him. He went back to his country and became their head coach. I couldn't believe that a 25-member board of directors, including the president, could make such a decision. I hope they are realising their mistake. Those who brought him back thought that he was a magician. They thought that only Hathurusinghe created this bubble of success. Cricket is not about magic. Bangladesh's success is due to a combination of players, coaches, selection committee, and even board officials."

His best achievement was the 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan this year. It was their maiden win in Pakistan, and first overseas Test series win in 15 years. Their India tour ended in disappointment as they were whitewashed in Tests as well as T20Is by a bigger margin.

Phil Simmons first assignment as an interim coach would be a two-match Test series at home against South Africa this month. Followed by the clashes against West Indies, UAE, and ICC Champions Trophy 2025.