Newly appointed Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has begun his second stint with the Tigers ahead of the home series against England and Ireland in the coming weeks. The official press conference after Hathurusingha's return was held Wednesday afternoon at BCB press conference area and as expected, it was a lively interaction where the Tigers coach answered many questions regarding his return to Bangladesh cricket, relations with senior players, his future plans with the team and targets, among other topics. Here are the excerpts:
How did the Bangladesh Cricket Board approach you and what are your thoughts on coming back to Bangladesh as head coach again?
I've followed Bangladesh cricket since I left. I have always had a soft corner for Bangladesh cricket because that was my first coaching job in international cricket. I always wanted to come back to Bangladesh someday. But I never thought that opportunity would come this early. During the last T20 World Cup I had a meeting with the BCB president (Nazmul Hasan) and few BCB officials. We discussed few things. And I thought that's the right time to come. Since the ODI World Cup is coming this year, so if I had waited until the season-end of New South Wales then it would have been late. So as soon as the Big Bash season ended, I decided to come.
When you left in 2017, the BCB president informed the media that you felt you had nothing more to give Bangladesh cricket. Now that you are back in 2023, what motivates you?
I will answer this with my point of view: I think there will be a transition period going forward to the next two-three years. Lot of senior players have done really well for Bangladesh cricket over the years. They will be remembered as a really good generation of Bangladesh cricket. And now many young players have also come up and playing well. To be a part of that kind of challenge (transition) is always motivating for me and that's why I have decided to come back.
Squad for the first two England one-day internationals has been announced. Would you try some new players?
I have not seen the new players play so far. So I would like to observe the players first in the upcoming series. I think they are playing well, had a good series against India. For now, I am relying on the observation and opinions from the other members of coaching panel to judge the team. Then afterwards, we will see.
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What will be the roles of senior players? Any challenges to deal with senior players?
The senior players have been playing great for the last 12-15 years for Bangladesh. The roles they were playing in these years will be the role in coming years as well as long as they are being selected. I don't think their roles will change much. Because I believe they are world-class players and they are successful in these years whatever the roles they were playing.
And about dealing with senior players, there is no challenge to deal with them, not at all. Even in my last time, I didn't face challenges with any of the senior players. I have spoken with all the senior players. I think everybody is focusing on one thing. And that is, the team is number one. Everyone is focusing on one goal and that is, ‘performing well as a team'.
A new challenge awaits you. Will it be the new version of Hathurusingha the coach?
Compared to my previous stint as Bangladesh coach, I am more experienced now. The last time when I became coach, I had to prove to a lot of people and to me as well that I am ready to coach at the international level. Now this time when I arrive I know better about how Bangladesh cricket works and also I know better about myself as well as I am more experienced now as a coach.
In your first stint, Bangladesh focused on spinning tracks and also got some success at home. What is your plan to taste success particularly in Tests?
What is home advantage to you? I am asking to you…When we go to New Zealand what kind of wickets we get? What do Australia and England do when we go there? What India is doing at home now?
In the overseas series, we will try to manage what we have. But at home, if you don't have missiles, how do you fight? Then you have to fight a guerrilla war, isn't it? You let them come home [and you make the best with what you have]. If you don't have ammunition, then you can't do it.
I am not agreeing with you [taking advantage at home], because every country does the same thing. You need to take home advantage. We play to our strengths when at home.
I think Bangladesh team have played well in away tours in recent times. In South Africa they did well, in New Zealand they played well. As we discussed, now some of the fast bowlers are coming through the systems. I remembered Ebadat (Hossain) got the first chance in New Zealand series away as a development player when I was the coach. And also (Nazmul Hossain) Shanto. And now they are performing well. So it takes time.
