Chandika Hathurusinghe has been dismissed from his role as the head coach of the Bangladesh men’s cricket team due to "misconduct" and a "breach of employment terms," according to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The BCB issued a statement revealing that Hathurusinghe had been formally notified on Tuesday, and after receiving his response the following day, the board held an emergency meeting where it decided to terminate his contract with immediate effect.
Reports from local media suggest that the dismissal may have been linked to an incident during the 2023 World Cup in India, where a player allegedly accused Hathurusinghe of slapping him. While the BCB has not confirmed this specific allegation, the statement issued on Thursday made it clear that Hathurusinghe's explanation for his behaviour was deemed "unsatisfactory and unacceptable." The board found his actions to be consistent with misconduct and a failure to fulfil his duties.
In a press conference, BCB president Faruque Ahmed expressed his disappointment upon learning of the situation through news reports. While he acknowledged that things can happen in the heat of the moment, he pointed out that physically assaulting a national player is unacceptable and warranted disciplinary action. Ahmed added that such a response should have been taken earlier.