Chandika Hathurusinghe Out as Bangladesh Men’s Coach

Chandika Hathurusinghe has faced dismissal as Bangladesh’s men’s head coach due to “misconduct” and “breach of employment terms,” according to a statement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The board notified Hathurusinghe of the issue on Tuesday. After evaluating his response on Wednesday, they convened an emergency meeting that led to the termination of his contract.

Local media reports indicate that the dismissal stems from an incident during the 2023 World Cup in India where a player accused Hathurusinghe of slapping him. The BCB’s statement emphasized that Hathurusinghe’s explanation was “unsatisfactory and unacceptable,” which led the board to conclude that his actions constituted misconduct and dereliction of duty. The board declared that his termination takes immediate effect.

BCB president Faruque Ahmed expressed disappointment upon learning about the incident through the media, stating, “You cannot hit a national player. It is not on.” He also noted that the punishment was justified, suggesting it should have been addressed sooner. While the BBC has reached out to the BCB, they have not yet verified the allegations against Hathurusinghe.

Chandika Hathurusinghe, who rejoined Bangladesh as head coach in January 2023 after previously serving from 2014 to 2017, oversaw the team’s eighth-place finish at the 2023 World Cup and their exit from the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup. However, the team recently enjoyed success by winning a Test series 2-0 in Pakistan.

In the interim, the board appointed former West Indies coach Phil Simmons to lead the team until the conclusion of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Ahmed praised Simmons’ coaching experience and vision, deeming him an excellent choice for the role.