Tue Oct 15 14:24:20 UTC 2024: ## Bangladesh Cricket Board Fires Head Coach Chandika Hathurusingha Amidst Disciplinary Issues
**Dhaka, Bangladesh** – The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has fired head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, effective immediately, due to disciplinary issues. The decision, announced by BCB President Faruque Ahmed, follows a 48-hour suspension period.
Hathurusingha’s dismissal stems from two separate incidents: a physical and verbal altercation with a player during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India, and exceeding his allotted leave days.
“There were couple of incidents about the current coach which, for me as a former player, was quite painful,” said Ahmed. “Considering these things, we have served him today with a show cause notice and suspension from duty as head coach.”
The incident involving the player, details of which remain undisclosed, drew widespread condemnation. “I really felt bad from the moment I learned about the incident from the newspapers,” Ahmed admitted. “You cannot hit a national player. It is not on.”
Hathurusingha also faced criticism for taking extended leaves exceeding his contractual allowance. “He informed in a scattered way in one or two emails that he has to go home,” said Ahmed. “It can’t be more than three months.”
The BCB has appointed former West Indies cricketer Phil Simmons as the interim head coach, with a contract extending until the 2025 Champions Trophy. Simmons, known for his successful coaching stints with various national teams and franchises, will take charge for the upcoming two-Test series against South Africa.
Hathurusingha’s departure comes after a disappointing period for Bangladesh cricket, marked by whitewashes against India in both Test and T20 formats. His second stint as coach, which began in January 2023, failed to live up to the promise of his first tenure from 2014-17, during which Bangladesh made significant progress in white-ball cricket.
The BCB’s decision to terminate Hathurusingha’s contract highlights a commitment to upholding high standards of conduct within the national team. While the specifics of the incident remain undisclosed, the severity of the punishment underscores the seriousness of the BCB’s stance.
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