Allegations against me are premeditated: Hathurusingha

Chandika Hathurusingha is no longer the head coach of the Bangladesh cricket team, having been dismissed after receiving a show-cause notice. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has cited two major reasons for his dismissal prior to the expiration of his contract.

One allegation is that he physically assaulted a player during the 2023 World Cup in India, while the second allegation against him is that he took more leave than allowed under his contract.

Hathurusingha has finally spoken out about his dismissal and these allegations. In a statement to the media, he claimed that the allegations against him are premeditated.

The recently sacked coach said, "These allegations seem premeditated to me. On the very first day of the new president's tenure at the BCB, he publicly stated his intention to remove the head coach. He also admitted that this could cause financial damage to the BCB."

On the same day that Hathurusingha received his show-cause notice, it was announced that Phil Simmons would be the new head coach of the Bangladesh team. Referring to this, Hathurusingha said, "I was stunned to receive the show-cause notice just four hours before another head coach was appointed. Although the notice states that I have 48 hours to prove my innocence, the way everything unfolded raises serious questions about the motives behind this action."

However, Hathurusingha has indicated that he is committed to fighting for his reputation. He stated, "I am committed to protecting my reputation. I will fully cooperate with any investigation regarding this matter. In the end, the truth will prevail, allowing me to contribute positively to the game I love."