Former Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe has strongly denied allegations made by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that led to his sacking earlier this week. Hathurusinghe, who was removed from his position on October 17, has accused BCB president Faruque Ahmed of making “premeditated” allegations, including claims of assaulting a player and taking excessive time off beyond the terms of his employment.
The BCB suspended Hathurusinghe on October 15, citing two key issues: a reported incident of assault on a player during the 2023 ODI World Cup, and his alleged breach of leave entitlements in his contract. The board swiftly appointed Phil Simmons as the new head coach, extending his tenure until the Champions Trophy in 2025.
Hathurusinghe responded to the accusations, questioning the timing and motives behind the BCB’s actions. He pointed to Faruque Ahmed’s public desire to remove him as coach on the first day of his presidency, which was announced despite the potential financial consequences for the BCB.
“I was shocked to receive a ‘show cause notice’ just four hours before the appointment of another head coach, despite the notice stating that I had 48 hours to prove my innocence,” Hathurusinghe said. “This sequence of events raises serious questions about the motives behind these actions.”
Alleged Assault on Player
The first major allegation against Hathurusinghe stemmed from an incident during the World Cup in India, where he was accused of physically assaulting a player. However, Hathurusinghe pointed out that the player in question had not lodged a formal complaint at the time of the alleged incident. He further criticized the way the issue was later brought to light by a YouTuber, questioning the authenticity and timing of the claims.
Hathurusinghe noted the alleged incident took place in the players‘ dugout, an area under constant surveillance during World Cup matches. He expressed surprise that, if the incident were serious, the player did not immediately report it to the team manager or any other authority. The incident only surfaced months later after the YouTuber “orchestrated the narrative,” Hathurusinghe claimed.
“I cannot allow this presumption to go unchallenged without responding,” he said. “I believe it is essential to clarify the facts as I see them surrounding these accusations.”
Leave Entitlement Dispute
The second allegation against Hathurusinghe involved his leave record. The BCB claimed that he took 112 days off in 2023 and 59 days in 2024, far exceeding the 45-day leave allowance in his contract. Hathurusinghe, however, argued that he had always sought and received approval for his leave from BCB Chief Executive Nizamuddin Chowdhury and the chairman of cricket operations, Jalal Yunus. He added that the BCB had never raised any objections to his leave at the time.
The former coach also criticized the BCB for not accounting for public holidays and Fridays, which were often part of his leave arrangements. According to Hathurusinghe, he was entitled to time off on Fridays and half-days on Thursdays as part of Bangladesh labor law, which was not taken into consideration when the BCB made its claims.
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Security Concerns and the New Management
Hathurusinghe also addressed his departure from Bangladesh, saying that he had left the country for security reasons. He suggested that the swift appointment of a new head coach and the lack of due process raised concerns about the motivations of the BCB’s new administration, which was put in place following the overthrow of the Bangladesh government in August 2024.
“Given the circumstances, I was advised to leave Bangladesh on security grounds,” Hathurusinghe said. “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.”
Defense and Commitment to the Sport
In his statement, Hathurusinghe expressed his commitment to defending his reputation and cooperating with any investigation into the matter. He also reaffirmed his love for the sport and his desire to continue contributing positively to it.
“I am committed to defending my reputation and will cooperate fully with any investigation into these matters,” he said. “In the end, truth will prevail, and I can continue to contribute positively to the sport I love.”
Hathurusinghe’s sacking marks the end of his second stint as Bangladesh coach. Having first taken charge in 2014, he resigned in 2017 but returned to the role in February 2023. His tenure ended with five months left on his two-year contract.