Apart from the on-field lows, Hathurusingha’s muddled way of handling the dressing room has irked the fans and also a major part of the BCB hierarchy
Sports News Desk: Bangladesh Cricket Board is in a possible dilemma regarding the road ahead with the national team head coach Chandika Hathurusingha.
Sentiment in general has been common and soaring to terminate Hathurusingha and also One Day International captain Shakib al Hasan from their respective posts following Bangladesh’s disastrous performance in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India.
BCB’s predicament with Hathurusingha is understood to be the exit clause of the written agreement between the parties.
The board, following extensive internal discussions, got Hathurusingha back to Bangladesh in February this year on a two-year deal.
According to BCB sources, a premature termination with Hathurusingha might cost the board big money in terms of payment of salary of the remaining months of the contract.
According to reports, Hathurusingha is drawing $30,000 per month from the BCB.
It is also likely that the agreement stipulates that the Court of Arbitration for Sport could become involved in the event of an early termination through which the former Sri Lankan cricketer can demand compensation – similar to the previous instance with Sri Lanka Cricket.
Hathurusingha had come down hard on SLC in 2019-20 after he was removed as the head coach following the side’s below-par display in the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England and Wales.
Bangladesh till now in the ongoing 10-nation ODI World Cup have played seven games and lost six times, including a humiliating defeat against International Cricket Council associate member side the Netherlands.
The tamed Tigers are at No 9 in the points table and to avoid the shame of not qualifying for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, they must win at least one of the last two matches – against Sri Lanka and Australia respectively.
Apart from the on-field lows, Hathurusingha’s muddled way of handling the dressing room has irked the fans and also a major part of the BCB hierarchy.
The drama with former captain Tamim Iqbal just ahead of the World Cup is claimed to be the brainchild of Hathurusingha and Shakib and their unprecedented experiments with the batting line-up is said to be a major factor behind Bangladesh’s worst display in a 50-over World Cup.
The situation is all the more frustrating given that Bangladesh had stepped into the tournament as the No 3 side in the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.
News is also spilling out from the dressing room of a clear rift between Hathurusingha and his close ally Nic Pothas (assistant coach) against the rest of the coaching panel who are set to end the contract with BCB following the world event.
Amid the grim situation, the players have been left clueless and so is Bangladesh team director for the ongoing World Cup, Khaled Mahmud.
Former Bangladesh skipper and now a BCB director, Mahmud, while speaking to the media in New Delhi Friday refrained from putting any blame on the coach or anyone else in the dressing room but hinted that there will surely be post-mortem after the shambolic campaign ends.
Mahmud however, was clear with his frustration for the “zero role” he has in the team strategies and said he would not have come with the side to the World Cup if he had the slightest of idea about his role.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune Saturday requesting anonymity, a BCB influential admitted to the ongoing matters and pressed on the need for a healthy plan going ahead after the World Cup.
“Yes, we are hearing many things as well and of course there will be discussions on the matters following the World Cup. The team were in a very good shape going into the tournament so it is honestly hard to digest the performance that has been on display so far,” said the BCB official.
Hathurusingha after getting sacked from the Sri Lanka job had demanded $5m in compensation from SLC over the early termination of his contract.
Hathurusingha had then sought his full salary for the remaining 18 months from the SLC which amounted to just over a million dollars.
He also claimed that his reputation as an international coach suffered as a result of what he called wrongful termination.
His claim of $5m through the CAS included damages as well as the wages he claimed were due to him.
