The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially suspended head coach Chandika Hathurusingha for disciplinary reasons. This decision follows serious allegations of misconduct, including an assault on a player and repeated absences from training sessions, which violate his contract terms.
Hathurusingha, who resumed his role as Bangladesh’s coach in February 2023, will face a 48-hour suspension prior to his immediate termination. The BCB has also issued a show-cause notice to him regarding the allegations.
In the meantime, former West Indies coach Phil Simmons will take over coaching duties until the 2025 Champions Trophy, set for February.
BCB president Faruque Ahmed spoke to the media about Hathurusingha’s suspension, stating, “Hathurusingha has committed two counts of misconduct that necessitated this decision. His actions do not align with the standards we expect from our coaching staff.”
Hathurusingha’s tenure included a notable achievement with a historic 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan earlier this year. However, his leadership has faced increasing scrutiny due to the team’s disappointing performances in key tournaments, including last year’s ODI World Cup and the recent T20 World Cup co-hosted by the Caribbean and the USA.
Following a lackluster tour of India, where Bangladesh suffered a 2-0 defeat in Tests and a 3-0 loss in T20Is, calls for a change in coaching grew louder among fans and analysts.
