Bangladesh Cricket Board’s decision to immediately suspend national team head coach Chandika Hathurusingha from his role, and soon to be termination of the contract, has come on the back of instances of “severe indiscipline”.
According to BCB president Faruk Ahmed, among many cases of indiscipline – Hathurusingha raising hand on a national cricketer during the 2023 Cricket World Cup and his long list of leave from work at will are the chief reasons for the termination of the contract.
Though BCB chief Faruk refrained from taking name of the cricketer in front of the media – the story is well known in the circuit that left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed was the cricketer physically abused by Hathurusingha.
During one of the games at the World Cup held in India, Hathurusingha was accused of slapping Nasum and there are many witnesses within the team who verified the incident.
The previous board under president Nazmul Hasan is said to have tactfully avoided the incident.
Bangladesh had finished eighth out of 10 teams in the flagship International Cricket Council event, just about enough to qualify for the Champions Trophy set to take place in Pakistan next year.
“There were a few incidents that, as a former cricketer [myself], were painful for me. Considering everything, we have issued a show-cause notice and suspended him from his role as coach. After 48 hours, we will proceed with his dismissal. The harassment of a cricketer was one of the reasons. Additionally, taking leave without permission is another issue,” said BCB supremo Faruk to the media at a press conference arranged hurriedly at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium Tuesday.
Apart from physically assaulting a cricketer, Faruk claimed Hathurusingha broke discipline by taking leave from work at every opportunity that accumulated to more than three months in a year.
According to media reports, former Sri Lanka cricketer Hathurusingha has availed more leave than it was allowed in the contract.
As per the deal, Hathurusingha is entitled to 45 days of leave in a year.
However in his first year, the 56-year old had taken an extra 67 days of leave and extra leave of 14 days in year two.
The BCB has claimed that these extra leaves were not taken officially.
Apart from these official claims, Hathurusingha was culpable for triggering disputes in the national dressing room, resulting in an unhealthy atmosphere.
Hathurusingha began his second stint as the Bangladesh head coach in January 2023, signing a two-year contract.
His role in the Shakib al Hasan-Tamim Iqbal fiasco right before the 2023 World Cup, which ended in Tamim making himself unavailable for the tournament, has been a big question mark.
BCB boss Faruk has been a big critic of Hathurusingha.
Their history of dispute began when Faruk was head of the national selection panel during Hathurusingha's first stint with the Bangladesh national team between 2014 to 2017.
Differences in opinion and Hathurusingha’s autocratic tendency had forced Faruk to resign from his post at BCB.
Faruk returned to the BCB as president following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime in August and during his first press conference was clear about his stance against Hathurusingha.
