DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has suspended men’s team head coach Chandika Hathurusingha due to inappropriate conduct during last year’s ODI World Cup in India.
Hathurusingha, the former Sri Lanka all-rounder, has faced scrutiny after Bangladesh’s disappointing performance on their recent tour of India, where they were whitewashed in both the Test and T20I series.
Reports indicate that Hathurusingha will be sacked and replaced by former West Indies player Phil Simmons. Simmons, who had a successful playing career as an all-rounder and opened the batting for the West Indies in the early and mid-1990s, will take charge of the Bangladesh team leading up to the ICC Champions Trophy next year.
The BCB launched an investigation after a player accused Hathurusingha of slapping him during the World Cup.
The 56-year-old coach had rejoined the Bangladesh team in February last year for a second stint, with his contract set to expire after the 2025 Champions Trophy.
However, he will not be present for the upcoming two-match Test series at home against South Africa.
Hathurusingha’s tenure has been marked by mixed results. He led the team to a historic Test series sweep in Pakistan but faced significant setbacks in India, suffering an embarrassing 0-2 defeat in the two-Test series and a 0-3 loss in the T20I series.
His exit comes at a critical juncture for Bangladesh cricket, as they look to rebuild and regain competitiveness on the international stage.
Phil Simmons, who has previously coached various international teams, will now have the challenging task of revitalizing the squad and preparing them for the Champions Trophy. The BCB will be hoping that Simmons’ experience and tactical acumen can help steer Bangladesh back to form.
