Faruque Ahmed and Chandika Hathurusinghe. (Source – Twitter/X)
A lot happened in the political landscape of Bangladesh as student protests led to the toppling of the government and the new Prime Minister holding the reigns. The cricket, however, was not spared as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President, Nazmul Hassan stepped down from the position. Faruque Ahmed has been named as the new President of BCB and he has iterated for a new Head Coach in his first press conference.
Faruque had previously resigned from the chief selector position in 2016 after Head Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe initiated a two-tier selection panel through then-BCB president Nazmul Hassan. Hathurusinghe’s tenure will end in February 2025, but Faruque was adamant about removing the 55-year-old even before he held the President position.
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“I am yet to find out about Chandika Hathurusinghe’s contract. I have to see some stuff officially but I have not moved from my previous stance. I have to speak to my colleague over the next two or three days, and see if we can find someone better than him. We have to prepare a shortlist, and see who wants to join us,” Faruque said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
“His credibility and background of what he has done on and off the field, there’s no reason for him to stay [as Bangladesh’s coach]. You will lose some money [if you sack him], but there will be greater damage by his presence. I had noticed that it is impossible to work in the environment he wants to work in,” he had previously said.
Was real blunder to bring back Hathurusinghe for second stint: Faruque
Hathurusinghe commenced his second stint with Bangladesh in 2023 and the present BCB president was the first to question the appointment. The appointment coincidently brought instability to the dressing room Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan indulged in a smearing campaign all over the media. The iconic Alan Donald also relinquished his bowling coach position after team’s dismal performance in ICC events.
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“It was a real blunder to bring back Hathurusinghe for a second stint. He had left us in trouble the last time he left the job [in 2017]. Bangladesh was a stepping stone for him. He went back to his country, became their head coach. I couldn’t believe that a 25-member board of directors, including the president, could make such a decision. I hope they are realising their mistake,” Faruque concluded.