Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) took initiative to sack the head coach of the national cricket team, Chandika Hathurusingha, and issued a show-cause notice. BCB President Faruque Ahmed confirmed on Tuesday at BCB headquarters that the board has decided to issue notice to Chandika. He was also asked to submit a reply to the show-cause notice in 48 hours. “Due to several incidents with broad consequences, we have taken action by issuing a show-cause and suspension letter to the coach,” Faruque Ahmed said. It’s understood that Chandika is accused of assaulting a national team member physically. The board has yet to reveal the incident in a more detailed manner. He was also involved in misconduct related to his agreement with the BCB. Is a new era in Bangladeshi cricket in the making? Chandika prefers to watch for now Phil Simmons will now be the new coach of the Bangladesh team. He signed an agreement till the next Champions Trophy which is scheduled to take place in Pakistan in 2025. As Bangladesh’s head coach, Chandika’s last assignment was the India tour, consisting of two Tests and three T20Is. Bangladesh lost all the matches without offering any kind of resistance. Nic Pothas Steps in as Bangladesh's Interim Coach in Chandika's Absence His best in this stint was Bangladesh’s 2-0 win in the Test series against Pakistan in Pakistan. But that was not enough to back his position as Bangladesh’s head coach. Faruque became the president of the BCB after the previous president, Nazmul Hasan, resigned following a popular uprising of students and citizens that ousted the government led by Sheikh Hasina. Chandika’s appointment as head coach last February by the previous board was met with a mixed reaction from the cricketing community. He coached Bangladesh in the last one-day and T20 World Cups, where Bangladesh failed to impress. Bangladesh’s performance in the one-day World Cup in India was more than forgettable, where they failed to win even against the Netherlands. ‘More experienced’ Chandika aims to find own game plan Farque Ahmed, the BCB boss, who also was a former captain of Bangladesh, criticized Chandiaka’s appointment when the previous board brought him back. Faruque and Chandika have a history of disagreements. During Chandika's first stint as Bangladesh's head coach, Faruque, then serving as the chief selector, often clashed with him over team selection, making their differences a frequent topic in the news. Chandika became Bangladesh’s coach for the first time in 2014. After a series in South Africa, he abruptly ended his job with BCB in 2017. Coincidently, he now lost his job before another series against South Africa at home.

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has received its fair share of criticism over the years, but the head coach of the Bangladesh national team has gone further, saying he turns off TV when he sees BPL. In a recent interview with ESPNCricinfo, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha expressed his disappointment with the culture T20 events. “There has to be some regulation,” he said. “A player is playing one tournament and then playing another tournament. It's like a circus.” Hathurusingha clearly outlined his frustration with Bangladesh “not having a proper T20 tournament.” He goes so far as to say, “This sounds very odd, but when I'm watching the BPL, I sometimes turn off the TV. Some players are not even of the class. I have a big issue with the current system.” The coach emphasized the need for a T20 event where Bangladeshi bowlers can practice bowling in the death overs, and where Bangladeshi batters can gain experience batting at the top of the order. Read more: BPL Spectacle: What Makes Tawhid Shine with a Century? “A franchise does what it wants,” Hathurusingha added. “Some of my best players are not playing (the BPL). So then how do you expect the Bangladesh team to be up with the other teams? I am fighting a steep battle.” The BPL 2024 has entered the playoffs, with the eliminator and the first qualifier taking place in Dhaka on February 27. Right after BPL, Bangladesh will take on Sri Lanka in a full series — three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Tests. Hathurusingha believes the series against Sri Lanka will see the real rivalry in the field, but he also mentioned that Bangladesh will be underdog against Sri Lanka in T20Is. “We are developing as a T20 team. We are underdogs, to be honest. It is a good challenge for us. I am still confident we will give them a good fight. We will understand where we are at, ahead of the World Cup, after this series,” Hathurusingha added in the interview. Read more: BPL Mid-Season Standout Stars: Naim, Shoriful Lead as Tournament Shifts to Chattogram

After a prolonged period of struggles, Soumya Sarkar roared back to life with a dazzling century against New Zealand. In the second BAN vs NZ ODI in Nelson, Soumya blazed 169 runs off 151 balls, peppering his innings with 22 fours and two sixes. This knock marked a monumental turnaround for the left-hander who last reached a half-century in 2019. The following years saw him sidelined from the ODI team in 2020, failing to impress in his limited opportunities in 2021, and dropped again in 2022. His return under head coach Chandika Hathurusingha began with two consecutive ducks in 2023, raising questions about his selection. However, Hathurusingha remained committed to Soumya, and the faith paid off spectacularly. Bangladesh aim to bounce back in 2nd ODI vs New Zealand The opener unleashed his fury on the Kiwis, dispatching deliveries to all corners of the ground. In doing so, he not only stood tall amidst Asian batters on New Zealand soil but also etched his name in record books. His 169 surpassed Sachin Tendulkar's 163 not out in Christchurch in 2009, claiming the mantle of the highest ODI score by an Asian batter in New Zealand. This was Soumya’s third ODI century, adding to his previous accomplishments in 2015 and 2018. Fueled by his career-best knock, Bangladesh piled up a formidable total of 291 all out in the second ODI against New Zealand. Bangladesh lost the first match. If the Tigers can defend this total on Wednesday (December 20, 2023), the last match will turn into a final of this series. Triumphant U-19 boys eager to keep shining

Making a noteworthy debut against India in the Asia Cup, right-arm pace bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib exhibited commendable prowess. He swiftly clinched two key wickets at the onset of the innings and subsequently held fort, defending a mere 12 runs in the final over to secure a resounding victory for Bangladesh. This triumphant performance left an indelible mark on Bangladesh’s head coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, who now envisions Tanzim as a crucial asset for the impending World Cup, set to unfold later this year in India. Bangladesh poised to be a formidable contender in World Cup, Shakib believes In the World Cup, Bangladesh will be without the services of pacer Ebadot Hossain, as he fell prey to a knee injury that necessitated surgical intervention. He faces a lengthy recovery period before resuming his cricketing pursuits. In light of this void, Chandika sees Tanzim as a highly promising option to step into the breach. “Tanzim has made a compelling case for inclusion in the Bangladesh World Cup squad,” remarked Chandika in the aftermath of the India match. Bangladesh beat India in Asia Cup after 11 years The Bangladesh coach also emphasized his preference for a four-man pace attack in the World Cup, with Ebadot originally factoring into this strategic blueprint. However, given the pacer's slim chances of regaining fitness in time for the tournament, Chandika is inclined towards considering Tanzim. “I firmly believe it would not be an erroneous decision to include him in the World Cup squad,” Chandika asserted. “He has demonstrated his mettle, and his ability to bat at the late order is an added asset.” Tigers aim for a memorable end to their Asia Cup campaign by facing India Bangladesh's upcoming challenge is a face-off against New Zealand on home turf — a final opportunity to fine-tune their World Cup roster.

Chandika Hathurusingha has been named coach of the Bangladesh national cricket team for a second time. He will begin his new role during the upcoming England series in Bangladesh. Khaled Mahmud, former Bangladesh coach and director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), has referred to Chandika as a "good man." Mahmud stated that he expects Chandika to turn the Bangladesh team's fortunes around during this tenure. He acknowledged that while Chandika has a reputation as a strict coach, he is not as strict as people think. Mahmud praised Chandika for his honesty, saying that he is not a coach with a "double face." He added that Chandika has matured and is now more capable of delivering results as the head coach of the Tigers. The former Bangladesh cricket captain, Mahmud, previously served as the team director. However, he stated that he is uncertain about fulfilling the same role in the upcoming series. “The role of team director is not a permanent position for me," he said. "If the board president asks me to do the job, I am willing to do so. However, I have not received any recent confirmation from the president.” Read more: Home Sports Cricket Chandika returns as Bangladesh cricket team’s head coach England is set to tour Bangladesh in March for three ODIs and three T20Is. The first two ODIs will be played in Dhaka on March 1 and 3, while the third ODI and first T20I will be held in Chattogram on March 6 and 9. The final two T20Is will take place in Dhaka on March 12 and 14.    

Bangladesh national men's cricket team may have its head coach position filled soon as Chandika Hathurusingha is set to return. However, an official confirmation is yet to come.  This follows Cricket New South Wales confirming Hathurusingha's departure from his assistant coach role. Recent media speculation has been fueled by reports of an agreement between Chandika and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) following the resignation of Russell Domingo as head coach. Read more: BPL 2023: Sylhet Strikers overpower Khulna Tigers to ensure playoff berth Cricket New South Wales on Tuesday confirmed that Chandika left his role as an assistant coach, and the Australian team said that he is “desired to seek a coaching role internationally”.  However, they did not disclose where Chandika may take on a new role. Nazmul Hasan, the president of the BCB, stated during a recent visit in Sylhet that the board plans to appoint a new coach in February before the home series against England. However, he kept the identity of the next head coach of the Bangladesh national team a secret. Last month, Domingo resigned as the head coach for both Test and ODI cricket. Sridharan Sriram, a former Indian cricketer, served as a technical consultant for the T20 World Cup last year and has been in discussions with the BCB regarding continuing in that role, which the BCB also hopes to keep. Read more: Dominators on the brink of elimination after 5-wicket loss to Rangpur Riders Before his sudden departure following a disappointing South Africa tour in 2017, Chandika served as the head coach of Bangladesh's cricket team starting in 2014. During his tenure, the team started its celebrated winning streak in ODIs at home, including series victories against India, Pakistan, and South Africa.