Chandika Hathurusingha’s is getting closer to return as Bangladesh head coach, after the board President Nazmul Hassan said he could become a candidate for the job after the Sri Lanka-Bangladesh ODI series. Khaled Mahmud will be the coach of the team in an interim capacity for the Sri Lanka series, after Bangladesh parted ways with Steve Rhodes at the end of their World Cup campaign.
Hathurusingha had been Bangladesh coach between 2014 and 2017, and Hassan, one of Hathurusingha’s biggest supporters during his Bangladesh stint, said the BCB is unable to talk to Hathurusingha and some of their other candidates right now, as they are involved in their current jobs. The BCB president also said the board would prefer a coach with previous experience of working with a subcontinent team.
“We have started the process to find a head coach, a fast-bowling coach and a physio,” Hassan said. “Since the ODI series is about to begin, we are not allowed to talk to Hathurusingha. He will become a candidate when there’s a break after this series, if he expresses his wish to come. We want a coach as soon as possible. We are in talks but some of the coaches are still involved in their present jobs.
“My first preference is that the coach must have national team coaching experience. We are also looking for someone who has previous experience with subcontinent teams. We are looking for coaches outside those who applied [for the coaching position] too. Top coaches have to be contacted through agents, so we are pretty much using all our avenues.”
Hathurusingha still has around 16 months to go in his contract with Sri Lanka Cricket, the early termination of which is understood to come with a hefty severance package.
The Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) on Wednesday officially informed all the national team coaches, including Hathurasingha, to step down after Bangladesh ODIs.
Especially on Hathurusingha case, Shammi led administration has decided to part ways with high profile coach, even if they will have to terminate his contract.
Hathurusingha has also realized the gravity of the situation and has offered an amicable settlement.
“Top administrators are negotiating with Hathurusingha since last week. He has also realized that now working together has become impossible. Thus, he has requested for an amicable settlement” a senior SLC administrator told Cricket Age on Wednesday.
Hathurusingha has also insisted that he wants to leave Sri Lanka Cricket gracefully, instead of being harassed by both board and media.
“He has told that he wants to leave peacefully. He don’t want to depart at a villain and with complete bashing from media” the senior official added further.
In their World Cup campaign, Sri Lanka won three, lost four matches, with two abandoned due to rain. The team were knocked out from the first round and it was termed as unsuccessful campaign.
The blame were put on Hathurusingha, He was the man in charge. For last two years, Sri Lanka prepared under his supervision. Right after his arrival, he identified and trusted on his own preferred players for the mega event – Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilika, Thisara Perera, Kusal Mendis. While Dickwella and Gunathilika turned that much ordinary that couldn’t even secure their places for the World Cup, Thisara and Mendis played the world cup and proved that Hathurusingha’s vision for the World Cup was nothing but disaster!
