Dhaka, Oct 18 (V7N)- Former Bangladesh national cricket team coach, Chandika Hathurusingha, has been dismissed from his position amidst a series of allegations, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointing Caribbean coach Phil Simmons in his place. The Sri Lankan coach has strongly responded to the accusations, claiming that his dismissal was "premeditated" and questioning the integrity of the charges brought against him.

In a detailed statement given to Media on Friday (October 18), Hathurusingha addressed the two main allegations: mistreating a player during the 2023 World Cup and taking unauthorized leave.

Allegation of Player Mistreatment:
Hathurusingha denied the allegation of insulting a player during a World Cup match, stating that the dugout and dressing room were constantly monitored by cameras. He emphasized that no such incident was captured, and he never had the opportunity to discuss the complaint directly with the player or witnesses. He also questioned why the alleged victim did not report the incident to the team manager or authorities at the time, asking, "Why would anyone wait until months later to raise this issue on YouTube?"

Unauthorized Leave Accusation:
The former coach addressed the second accusation of taking more leave than permitted without approval, firmly asserting that every leave he took was pre-approved by either the Chief Executive or the Chairman of Cricket Operations. He stated, "BCB has never expressed dissatisfaction with my leave," and criticized the board for not accounting for public holidays, Fridays, or days worked without holidays. He also pointed out that foreign coaches taking leave during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was a standard practice, which had been followed before his tenure as well.

Hathurusingha questioned the intentions behind the complaints, particularly highlighting that the new BCB president had expressed a desire to remove him from the position on the first day of office. He found it suspicious that a show cause notice was issued just four hours before a new head coach, Phil Simmons, was appointed, despite the notice giving him 48 hours to respond.

Security Concerns and Dignity:
Citing security concerns, Hathurusingha mentioned that he had been advised to leave Bangladesh, and expressed disappointment in how the BCB handled the situation. He concluded his statement by saying, "I am committed to protecting my dignity and will fully cooperate with any investigation. In the end, the truth will prevail."

New Coach Phil Simmons Takes Charge:
As Hathurusingha's dismissal became public, Phil Simmons, the former coach of the West Indies, took charge of the Bangladesh team. Simmons, who arrived in Dhaka earlier this week, has already begun familiarizing himself with his new role as he prepares the team for future assignments.

The sudden removal of Hathurusingha and the quick appointment of Simmons marks a significant transition in the leadership of Bangladesh cricket, raising questions about internal politics within the BCB and the future direction of the team.

END/RH/AJ