"These allegations appear to me to be premeditated" - Chandika Hathurusingha responds after being sacked as Bangladesh head coachÂ
Chandika Hathurusingha's second stint as Bangladesh head coach came to an abrupt end after he was initially suspended by the nation's cricketing body over 'disciplinary grounds', and had his contract terminated soon after. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) named Phil Simmons as the new head coach up until the 2025 Champions Trophy.
Newly appointed BCB president Faruque Ahmed has stated early in his stint that the team needs a better head coach than the former Sri Lanka player. Bangladesh recently suffered a complete whitewash against India across formats, and to make matters worse for the coach, he was accused of confronting a player physically and verbally during the 2023 ODI World Cup.
As per the BCB's allegations leading them to suspend Hathurushinghe, he also took excessive leaves than his contract permitted.
The coach has now released a statement explaining the proceedings from his point of view, while labeling BCB's claims as 'premeditated'.
"I am writing this letter to address the recent allegations made by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) questioning my integrity and professionalism regarding an alleged assault on a player during the 2023 World Cup match and claims of excessive leave taken without permission. I cannot allow this presumption unchallenged without responding. I believe it is essential to clarify the facts as I see them surrounding these accusations and present my side of the story," the statement began.
Hathurusingha noted the lack of evidence surrounding the 'alleged' incident during the 2023 ODI World Cup, and questioned why there was no official complaint filed on the spot, if the misconduct was as serious as implied by the BCB.
"Firstly, the alleged incident purportedly occurred in the players' dugout or dressing room, a location that is under constant surveillance during World Cup matches. With over 40 to 50 cameras capturing every moment of the game, I didn't get an opportunity cross examination an accuser nor witness any if at all there," Hathurusingha explained.
"Furthermore, if the incident was as serious as claimed, it is perplexing that the player involved did not report the incident to the team manager or any authority immediately following the alleged event. If a complaint was made, I wonder why I was not questioned or approached for my side of the story at that time. It raises the question as to why the narrative was orchestrated months later by an individual on YouTube?," he added.
He further accused BCB of fabricating the baseless allegations to support BCB president Faruque Ahmed's desire to remove him as the coach. Additionally, he revealed that the new coach's appointment was finalized even before he could avail an opportunity to explain his 'alleged' actions.
"These allegations appear to me to be premeditated. On the first day of the new president's term, he made a public statement expressing his desire to remove the head coach, which he acknowledged might involve financial repercussions for the BCB. Additionally, 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. This sequence of events raises serious questions about the motives behind these actions," he elaborated.
Hathurusingha had served as Bangladesh's head coach initially from 2014 to 2017. He was reappointed in January 2023 on a two-year contract, replacing Russell Domingo in the process.
"At no time did the BCB tell me that they were unhappy with my leave situation" - Chandika Hathurusingha
Regarding the second claim against Hathurusingha, where he apparently exceeded the number of leaves compared to what was deemed permissible according to his contract, he defended himself through the statement. The coach mentioned that all of his leaves were approved by the BCB.
"Regarding the claims of taking leave, I want to clarify that I have consistently sought and received approval from both the CEO and the Chairman of Cricket Operations whenever I have taken personal leave. At no time did the BCB tell me that they were unhappy with my leave situation, but conversely, every time I asked for leave, it was granted by BCB. At no time did I go on leave without their authorization," Hathurusingha stated.
In conclusion, the Sri Lankan mentioned that he was advised to leave Bangladesh on security grounds.
"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," he mentioned.
Bangladesh will begin life without Hathurusingha with a home series against South Africa. The BCB has already announced the squad for the two-match Test series.