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sports reporter //

Chandika Hathurusingha has a contract with BCB till the Champions Trophy in February 2025. However, it seems that this Sri Lankan has to leave the job of the coach of the Bangladesh team before this.

After Farooq Ahmed took over as president, the first meeting of BCB board of directors was held on Thursday. All the 11 directors present at the meeting held at the Mirpur Sherebangla Stadium BCB office agreed that Hathurusinghe should be sent off as soon as possible, even with compensation if necessary. According to the employment terms, Hathurusinghe will have to pay three months’ salary as compensation if he is fired before the contract. He gets 25 thousand dollars per month from BCB. Apart from this BCB also pays 30 percent of his income tax.

After the meeting, BCB president Farooq Ahmed said, “I don’t want to do anything between the Test matches (current Pakistan series), now in the middle of the tour.” As the head of the board, you can take any decision, but we have to think about other things so that there are no problems. He added, however, that it does not mean that we cannot do it at any time. He also said that everyone’s opinion is being taken in this regard.

A few sources in the meeting, however, said that the opinion had already been taken and as such it would be better to send off Hathurusinghe. Now that departure is after the contract is over or before that, that is the question.

Bangladesh won the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. If the team gets a fair result in the second Test starting today Friday, then the directors feel that sending off Hathurusinghe immediately after this series will have a negative impact on the team. Apart from that, after returning from Pakistan on September 4, there will be very little time before going to India on September 12. As difficult as it is to find a new coach in such a short period of time, it will not be easy for the new coach to understand the team.

That is why the board does not want to take any decision in haste. However, a source in the meeting said, if a better option is available, Bangladesh can tour India under a new coach. While the coach may be from among the locals for the emergency period, it may also be possible to get a foreigner. In the board meeting, there was also a discussion about taking the initiative to find a new coach.

If Hathurusinghe ends up being the coach for the tour of India, one thing is certain – he will not be the coach of the Bangladesh team until the Champions Trophy. Farooq’s words also hint that, ‘how much damage has been done to Bangladesh cricket, we will take a good look at that and take a decision. You can see something in the near future.