Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has officially terminated the contract of head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, citing misconduct and violation of employment terms. The decision came just two days after Hathurusinghe was suspended pending an investigation into the allegations.
The BCB had suspended Hathurusinghe on Tuesday after a show-cause notice was served, addressing two serious charges: assaulting a Bangladesh cricketer and taking more leave than permitted by his contract. Following Hathurusinghe’s response to the notice, the board convened an emergency meeting on Thursday to review his explanation, which they deemed “unsatisfactory and unacceptable.”
“After considering all factors, the board found his actions to be consistent with misconduct and dereliction of duty,” a BCB statement read. As a result, Hathurusinghe’s termination has been implemented with immediate effect.
Hathurusinghe’s departure marks the end of his second tenure as the Bangladesh head coach. Despite guiding the team to a historic Test series win in Pakistan during his second stint, his tenure was marred by underwhelming performances in the World Cup campaigns. Bangladesh’s ODI World Cup campaign in 2023 and the T20 World Cup in 2024 failed to meet expectations, contributing to the decision to part ways.
Phil Simmons, the former West Indies coach, has already been appointed as the new head coach of Bangladesh. Simmons will take charge of the team until the Champions Trophy in February 2025.
Hathurusinghe’s exit from the Bangladesh cricketing scene comes as a surprise, given the successes of his previous stint in charge from 2014 to 2017, where he helped raise the profile of Bangladesh cricket internationally. However, the recent performances and disciplinary issues have overshadowed his legacy.
