The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced the suspension of head coach Chandika Hathurusingha for disciplinary reasons stemming from serious misconduct allegations, including an assault on a player and repeated absences from training sessions that violate his contract terms.
Hathurusingha, who returned for a second term as Bangladesh’s coach in February 2023, will face a 48-hour suspension before his immediate termination. The BCB has issued a show-cause notice as part of the disciplinary process.
In the meantime, Phil Simmons, the former West Indies coach, has been appointed to lead the team through to the 2025 Champions Trophy, scheduled for February.
BCB President Faruque Ahmed addressed the media, stating, “Hathurusingha has two counts of misconduct that have led us to this decision. His actions do not align with the standards we expect from our coaching staff.”
Hathurusingha’s tenure has been marked by a historic 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan earlier this year. However, it has also faced criticism due to the team’s poor performances in major tournaments, including a disappointing showing at last year’s ODI World Cup and the recent T20 World Cup co-hosted by the Caribbean and the USA.