Chandika Hathurusingha, the Sri Lankan coach who had two separate stints as the head coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team, has been removed from his position ahead of his contract’s end. Hathurusingha first served as Bangladesh’s coach from June 2014 to October 2017, before abruptly leaving midway through his contract to take up the role of Sri Lanka’s coach, a move that attracted significant controversy. He returned to Bangladesh in 2023 under the leadership of BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon, with a contract lasting until the 2025 Champions Trophy. However, his tenure was cut short due to a string of controversies and poor performances.
Hathurusingha’s First Tenure: A Period of Mixed Success
During his first tenure, Hathurusingha oversaw significant achievements, including Bangladesh’s memorable run in the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup and victories over major cricketing nations like India, South Africa, and Pakistan. Under his guidance, Bangladesh reached the semifinals of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, marking one of the team’s best performances in global tournaments.
Hathurusingha was also instrumental in introducing rising talents like Mustafizur Rahman into the national team, who played a crucial role in several key matches. However, despite these successes, his tenure was marred by internal disputes, including a strained relationship with players and concerns over his management style.
Second Tenure and a Decline in Performance
Hathurusingha returned in 2023, facing high expectations. His second stint started with a disappointing series loss to England on home soil, although Bangladesh quickly rebounded by whitewashing England in a T20 series. The team also secured two series victories against Ireland.
However, after these initial successes, Bangladesh’s performance deteriorated, particularly in major tournaments like the Asia Cup and the ICC Cricket World Cup, where the team faced heavy losses. The squad struggled in key series against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, culminating in inconsistent results across formats. Despite some success in Test matches, the overall decline in performance fueled criticism against Hathurusingha.
Controversies and Strained Relations
Beyond performance issues, Hathurusingha faced accusations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior. Reports surfaced of physical altercations with players, including an incident with cricketer Nasum Ahmed. His relationship with the newly appointed BCB President Faruk Ahmed was also strained, particularly after Hathurusingha’s alleged interference in team selection during his first tenure.
Although Hathurusingha had the backing of former BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon, the World Cup failures and internal tensions led to his eventual dismissal. His contract was originally set to last until the 2025 Champions Trophy, but the new BCB administration chose to part ways earlier than expected.
Hathurusingha’s tenure is now seen as a mixed chapter in Bangladesh cricket, with early successes overshadowed by controversies, poor performances, and internal disputes.
