Sacked Bangladesh coach Hathurusinghe defends himself against misconduct allegations

Former Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe has raised concerns about the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) reasons for sacking him, accusing the board’s president of making "premeditated" claims.

Hathurusinghe was removed from his role after allegations of misconduct, including the assault of a player and violating his contract terms by taking too much leave. The BCB announced Phil Simmons as his replacement until the Champions Trophy in 2025.

Hathurusinghe responded strongly to these allegations, stating, "These allegations appear to me to be premeditated." He explained that BCB president Faruque Ahmed had publicly expressed his intent to remove him from the position on the very first day of his presidency, despite acknowledging that it could lead to financial losses for the board.

He also highlighted irregularities in the process leading up to his dismissal. "I was shocked to receive a 'show cause notice' just four hours before another head coach was appointed, even though the notice gave me 48 hours to respond. This raises serious questions about the motives behind these actions," he said.

The BCB suspended Hathurusinghe on October 15, accusing him of assaulting a player during the 2023 ODI World Cup and taking more leave than his contract allowed. The board officially terminated his contract two days later, on October 17.

However, Hathurusinghe questioned the timing and validity of these allegations. He mentioned that the player involved hadn’t reported the incident to the team manager at the time and only surfaced later when a YouTuber "orchestrated the narrative." He emphasized that the alleged incident took place in areas under constant surveillance, such as the dugout and dressing room, during World Cup matches.

"If the incident was as serious as claimed, it is perplexing that the player didn’t report it immediately. Why was I not questioned at the time? This narrative seems to have been orchestrated months later by someone on YouTube," Hathurusinghe added.

Regarding the leave issue, the former coach defended himself, saying that he had always taken leave with approval from the BCB’s chief executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury and the cricket operations chairman Jalal Yunus. "At no time did BCB tell me they were unhappy with my leave situation. Every time I asked for leave, it was granted," Hathurusinghe stated.

He further explained that the BCB did not account for public holidays like Eid or Fridays when counting his leave days. According to Bangladesh labor laws, employees are entitled to time off for work done on Fridays and half-days on Thursdays, which he believes should have been taken into consideration.

Hathurusinghe also revealed that he left Bangladesh due to security concerns, following advice. He questioned the way BCB’s new management treated its employees and raised doubts about their motivations, especially in light of the swift appointment of a new head coach. "The combination of these allegations, the swift appointment of a new head coach, and the apparent lack of due process raises significant concerns about the motivation of the new management and the treatment of employees within the BCB."

Hathurusinghe concluded by expressing his determination to clear his name. "I am committed to defending my reputation and will cooperate fully with any investigation into these matters. In the end, truth will prevail, and I can continue to contribute positively to the sport I love."

This was Hathurusinghe’s second tenure as Bangladesh’s head coach, having first taken the position in 2014 before stepping down in 2017. He returned in February 2023 but was dismissed with five months remaining on his two-year contract.