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As the new president of the BCB, Faruque Ahmed has reiterated his stance that Chandika Hathurusinghe should not continue as Bangladesh’s head coach. This view was expressed earlier in the week prior to taking up the BCB role.
“I am still in the process of reviewing Chandika Hathurusinghe’s contract. I need to officially confirm some details, but my position remains the same,” Faruque stated on Wednesday. “Over the next few days, I will discuss with my colleagues to identify a better candidate to replace him. We need to create a shortlist and assess who is interested in joining us.”
Having resigned as the chief selector in 2016 due to a two-tier selection panel introduced by then-president Nazmul Hassan at Hathurusinghe’s request, Faruque points out that Hathurusinghe’s current contract as head coach runs until the end of February 2025, coinciding with the conclusion of the Champions Trophy.
Faruque elaborated on his perspective, stating, “Considering his credibility and track record, there is no justification for him to remain as Bangladesh’s coach. While there may be financial implications to terminating his contract, the consequences of his presence far outweigh the costs. The working environment he desires is simply not feasible.”
Regarding Hathurusinghe’s return for a second term in 2023, Faruque was among those who questioned this decision. Despite the BCB’s faith in Hathurusinghe, Bangladesh did not continue the upward trajectory established by Steve Rhodes and Russell Domingo.
Within months of Hathurusinghe’s appointment, dressing room unrest emerged, leading to Tamim Iqbal’s retirement and Shakib Al Hasan publicly criticizing Tamim. Subsequently, Allan Donald departed as the fast-bowling coach and Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup performance was lackluster, prompting scrutiny of Hathurusinghe’s decision-making.
Faruque criticized the decision to bring back Hathurusinghe for a second term, highlighting the challenges faced during his previous tenure and suggesting that the decision makers should acknowledge their error. He emphasized that cricket success is a result of collective efforts involving players, coaches, selectors, and board officials.
Furthermore, Faruque expressed interest in Tamim’s return to international cricket and stated that discussions will be held with Shakib regarding his availability for upcoming Tests in October. Additionally, Faruque highlighted Tamim’s leadership qualities and expressed willingness to involve him in board activities if he decides to retire from playing.
Mohammad Isam serves as ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84
