Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha remains committed to fulfilling his contract with the men's national cricket team until 2025, despite the recent political turmoil in the country. Speaking to reporters in Rawalpindi on Monday, Hathurusingha expressed his willingness to continue serving if the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to retain him, even amidst the potential shakeup within the board due to the ongoing unrest.
Hathurusingha, who took on the role as Bangladesh’s all-format coach in early 2023 on a two-year contract, emphasized that he is prepared for any decision the board might make. He also conveyed his condolences to the families affected by the turmoil back in Bangladesh.
As he prepares his team for the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan, starting Wednesday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Hathurusingha is focusing on the task at hand. The political situation in Bangladesh has disrupted the team's preparations, leading to additional training sessions in Lahore after arriving in Pakistan.
Hathurusingha, who previously coached Bangladesh from 2014 to 2017 before moving on to coach Sri Lanka, is overseeing a squad that includes star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who was a lawmaker in the recently ousted government but was playing in Canada during the resignation.
Pakistan’s team for the first Test will feature pace bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad, and Mohammad Ali, with Rawalpindi also set to host the second Test starting on August 30.
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