In his first press conference as BCB president, Faruque Ahmed reaffirmed his stance that Chandika Hathurusinghe should no longer be Bangladesh’s head coach. Ahmed expressed his dissatisfaction with Hathurusinghe’s performance and questioned his future with the team. “I need to review Hathurusinghe’s contract and consult with my colleagues to explore potential replacements,” Faruque stated. His contract extends until February 2025, coinciding with the end of the Champions Trophy.
Faruque, who previously resigned as chief selector in 2016 over issues related to Hathurusinghe’s tenure, criticized the decision to rehire him in 2023. He highlighted recent challenges, including dressing room instability, the retirement of Tamim Iqbal, and Shakib Al Hasan’s media outbursts. Faruque also noted the subpar T20 World Cup performance and questioned Hathurusinghe’s decision-making.
“I believe bringing Hathurusinghe back was a mistake,” Faruque said. “He left us in a difficult position before and seemed to use Bangladesh as a stepping stone. The success of the team depends on a collective effort, not just one individual.”
On other matters, Faruque indicated a desire to understand Shakib Al Hasan’s availability for upcoming home Tests, given his political involvement. He also expressed hope that Tamim Iqbal would return to international cricket. Faruque suggested that Tamim might focus on ODIs and emphasized his potential leadership role, whether on the field or within the board.
Overall, Faruque is keen on reshaping the team’s coaching structure and exploring the future roles of key players.
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