Bangladesh cricket has officially bid farewell to Chandika Hathurusingha, the head coach embroiled in controversy. Following months of speculation and internal disputes, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has suspended Hathurusingha for 48 hours, after which his contract will be formally terminated. The decision, which comes after Bangladesh’s dismal performance in the India series, was confirmed by BCB President Faruque Ahmed in a press conference.

BCB president Faruque Ahmed confirmed the decision in a press conference, explaining, "Hathurusingha’s suspension is for 48 hours, a formal notice due to misconduct. When such conduct occurs, immediate suspension is often unnecessary. However, due to his international status, we followed international protocols. The 48-hour suspension will likely be followed by contract termination."

This move follows reports of Hathurusingha’s inappropriate behavior during the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, where allegations surfaced that he physically assaulted a player. Although the previous BCB leadership downplayed the incident, Faruque Ahmed took decisive action after assuming his role as board president. He elaborated, "From the very first day of the 2023 World Cup incident, I was deeply concerned. When a national team player is involved, and there’s physical assault, it demands strict action. That is why Hathurusingha had to go."

Aside from this incident, Hathurusingha also faced scrutiny for taking extended periods of leave without proper notice to the board, further exacerbating the situation. President Ahmed commented, "He took over three months of leave, which is also considered misconduct. Though he sent a few emails here and there, it doesn’t justify such long absences."

When asked whether performance played a role in the decision, Faruque clarified, "Performance issues were not the main reason, though we did perform poorly in several formats. Personal preferences were not a factor here; the key issue was the misconduct towards a player and his lack of professionalism as an employee."

The BCB has quickly moved to appoint Phil Simmons, the former West Indies coach, as Hathurusingha’s replacement. Simmons, who has a proven track record in international cricket, will serve as the interim coach until the 2025 Champions Trophy. His tenure will begin with the upcoming series against South Africa. Faruque Ahmed commented on Simmons’ appointment, saying, "Simmons has a rich coaching career. He’s worked with top teams and has an excellent track record in both international and franchise cricket. We believe he can steer the team in the right direction as we head toward major tournaments.