Chandika Hathurusingha, the head coach of the Bangladesh cricket team, has criticised the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) after being sacked. He was suspended on 15th October following allegations that he physically assaulted a player during the ODI World Cup 2023 and took excessive leaves during his tenure.
Allegations called intended
Hathurusingha, given 48 hours to respond to the allegations before being sacked, has strongly denied the claims. He called the allegations intended and challenged the BCB to prove them. In a detailed statement, Hathurusingha expressed confidence that the truth would eventually come out and promised full cooperation with any investigation.
In his statement, Hathurusingha addressed the allegations, saying, “The incident is said to have happened in the dugout or dressing room during a World Cup match, areas that are under constant surveillance. With over 40 to 50 cameras capturing every moment, I did not get a chance to cross-examine or witness anything.” He also questioned why the player did not report the incident immediately to the team manager and why it was only raised months later by someone on YouTube.
Clarifying the Leave Controversy
The BCB president accused Hathurusingha of taking unauthorised leave, totalling three months during his tenure. Hathurusingha refuted these claims, stating that all his leaves were authorised by both the CEO and the Chairman of Cricket Operations. “At no point did the BCB express dissatisfaction with my leave. In fact, every leave I requested was granted. I never took any leave without permission,” he added.
Context of leave during public holidays
Hathurusingha further explained that the BCB did not account for public holidays like Eid or Fridays when alleging excessive leave. He mentioned that, under Bangladesh’s labour laws, he was entitled to “time in lieu” for work done on Fridays. “When the new Board members alleged that I had taken excessive leave, they did not account for public holidays, such as Eid, nor the Fridays which may have occurred during my leave. Nor did they give credit for when I did not take allowed time off during public holidays. As I understand it, according to Bangladesh labour law, I am entitled to “time in lieu” for work done on Fridays. Additionally, as a BCB employee, I am entitled to leave on Fridays and a half-day off on Thursdays,” he said.
Concerns over the treatment of BCB employees
Hathurusingha concluded his statement by expressing concern about how other employees of the BCB might be treated. He revealed that the BCB president expressed a desire to remove him as head coach on the first day of his term. “These allegations appear to me to be premeditated. On the first day of the new president’s term, he made a public statement expressing his desire to remove the head coach, which he acknowledged might involve financial repercussions for the BCB. Additionally, I was shocked to receive a “show cause notice” just four hours before the appointment of another head coach, despite the notice stating that I had 48 hours to prove my innocence. This sequence of events raises serious questions about the motives behind these actions,” he said.
“Given the circumstances, I was advised to leave Bangladesh on security grounds. The combination of these allegations, the swift appointment of a new head coach, and the apparent lack of due process raises significant concerns about the motivation of the new management and the treatment of employees within the BCB.” he added.
Commitment to Defend His Reputation
Hathurusingha vowed to defend his reputation and cooperate fully with any investigation. He expressed confidence that the truth would prevail and that he could continue contributing to the sport he loves. “I am committed to defend my reputation and will cooperate fully with any investigation into these matters. In the end truth will prevail, and I can continue to contribute positively to the sport I love,” he concluded.
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