BCB President Criticizes Coach Hathurusinghe, Seeks Replacement

Newly elected BCB president Faruque Ahmed has openly criticized head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, indicating a desire to find a better candidate for the role. Ahmed's comments come after a series of underwhelming performances and internal team conflicts. Bangladesh's upcoming Test series against Pakistan begins August 21.

Newly appointed Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Faruque Ahmed has criticized team head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe, stating that he aims to find a more suitable replacement. Ahmed was elected as the new BCB president during a board meeting in Dhaka on Wednesday.

In his debut press conference, Ahmed told reporters, "I am yet to find out about Chandika Hathurusinghe's contract. I have to review some things officially, but my stance remains unchanged. Over the next two or three days, I'll consult with colleagues to see if we can identify a better fit. We need a shortlist and assess who is interested in joining us." Ahmed had previously been skeptical of Chandika's coaching record, stating on the YouTube show 'Not Our Norman' that the coach's credibility and behaviour did not justify his continued tenure.

Under Hathurusinghe's return last year, Bangladesh placed eighth in a recent tournament, winning only two matches and losing seven. The team also failed to secure any victory in the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup and lost a series to the USA, an ICC associate member. Issues within the team, including tensions between senior players Shakib Al Hasan and Tamim Iqbal, have exacerbated the instability.

"It was a grave mistake to reappoint Hathurusinghe," Ahmed added. "He had left us in a lurch back in 2017. The decision to bring him back is bewildering, and I hope the board realises their error." Ahmed, who is the first BCB president to have played competitive cricket, represented Bangladesh in seven ODIs between 1988 and 1999 and captained the national team in the 1994 ICC Trophy.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh is gearing up for a two-match Test series against Pakistan, commencing on August 21, with the second Test scheduled for August 30 to September 3. Both matches will take place at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)