Hathurusingha: Nazmul a clever guy

Former Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha termed BCB president Nazmul Hasan as “a very clever and intelligent guy” in an interview with a cricket-based website Friday. Hathurusingha in the interview was queried if Nazmul’s claim that all-rounder Shakib al Hasan's decision to take a break from Test match cricket ahead of a tough tour of South Africa was the final straw that prompted the Sri Lankan to step down from his position. The former Lankan cricketer denied the BCB boss’ claim and said, “Mr. Nazmul Hasan is a very clever, intelligent guy. He must have used it for some other reason. Maybe that is done to fire up Shakib. I see that Shakib has been made the (Test) captain now. He must have used that for some reason reading between the lines. He is very intelligent in handling things.”

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Also read: Hathurusingha bans music at training

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Many probable reasons for Hathurusingha’s surprise and complicated exit from Bangladesh cricket in October this year had spread widely right after his resignation. It was said Hathurusingha was not in good terms with the senior members of the team while there were stories circulating of him losing his authority in the board. Hathurusingha during his three and a half year stay with the BCB was given full authority regarding team selection and other major decisions of the national side. Hathurusingha however, in the interview stated that he left the post of Bangladesh coach as he felt he had nothing more to give to the team and that he could not afford to stay away from his family anymore. Under his supervision, Bangladesh defeated Australia and England at home in Tests, and Sri Lanka away from home. He also coached Bangladesh to the semi-final of the Champions Trophy this year. “I felt I have taken them to the best position I could. The other thing is that Sri Lanka Cricket had approached with the job for about four times. Then, I am coming to a stage where I can't stay away from my family for too long. My dream was to coach Sri Lanka. This is perhaps the right time. They are not going in the right direction. The other thing is that if I am spending about three years away from my family coaching Bangladesh and if I want to spend another four years or so coaching Sri Lanka or another country after that, I can't do that. Then I thought that this is the right opportunity to take up the challenge. This is the only time. So those are things that I thought about,” Hathurusingha explained.

SL Cricket new coach Chandika Hathurusingha says he will use the services of psychologist Dr. Phil Johnsy from Brisbane for Sri Lanka team, Dr. Phil has previously helped Bangladesh & Sydney Thunder when @CHathurusinghe was coaching

— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) December 28, 2017

Interesting time awaits both Hathurusingha and the Bangladesh cricketers as the former is set to visit Dhaka for the first since his resignation, as coach of Sri Lanka. The Lankans during their visit will first participate in the tri-nation series comprising Zimbabwe and host Bangladesh, followed by two-match Test and T20I series against the home side.