A confidential report by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has shed new light on the controversial dismissal of former head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, linking it to a physical altercation with cricketer Nasum Ahmed—an incident that may have been deliberately leaked to the media to push him out.
📌 What the BCB Report Revealed:
- The main reason cited for Hathurusingha’s exit was an incident with Nasum Ahmed during a World Cup match against New Zealand.
- Strength & Conditioning Coach Nicholas Lee was the only eyewitness who stated the coach “hit Nasum on the neck” in frustration during the match.
- Nasum, in his statement, said he felt “shocked and humiliated” when Hathurusingha pulled his collar and struck him, but his main concern was the media leak that damaged his public image.
- Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh’s World Cup captain, accused Tamim Iqbal and BCB’s Jalal Yunus of leaking the incident to remove the coach.
⚠️ Breakdown in Team Culture & Communication
- The report points to deep divisions between Hathurusingha and his coaching staff, especially Bowling Coach Allan Donald and Fielding Coach Shane McDermott.
- Shakib described visible “tension” and poor communication within the coaching unit.
- Many players were uncomfortable with Hathurusingha’s strict, aggressive approach, possibly worsened by language barriers.
- Despite that, most players respected his commitment and said he was always available for support.
🧠 Psychological Pressure & Preparation Issues
- Players were mentally drained, citing homesickness, fatigue, and media pressure.
- Constant changes in the batting order, poor planning, and late team announcements created confusion and low morale.
- Shakib himself was reluctant to take up the captaincy, which was handed to him just before the World Cup. He was also battling injuries and vision issues during the tournament.
🔁 Selection & Leadership Issues
- The sudden retirement of Tamim Iqbal, a senior opener and former ODI captain, left a vacuum in the squad.
- Despite good relations with many players, Hathurusingha was unable to unify the coaching team.
- The selection of playing XIs lacked consistency. In the Netherlands match, a favorable pitch was not utilized properly, and the winning combination was altered without justification.
📉 Key Quotes & Accusations
From Shakib Al Hasan:
“Leaking team issues to the media is harmful. Tamim and Jalal Yunus tried to build a case to sack the coach.”
From Hathurusingha:
“I have no recollection of the incident with Nasum.” (He has since claimed he left Bangladesh fearing for his safety.)
From Nasum:
“I was shocked. The worst part was the matter being leaked to the media when we returned home.”
🧩 Final Takeaways from the BCB Investigation
- Internal politics, poor planning, and a broken team structure heavily contributed to Bangladesh’s poor World Cup campaign.
- Coach-player relationships were generally positive, but management conflicts affected the team dynamic.
- The team director felt powerless and said his role lacked clear authority.
- Unrealistic media expectations, public pressure, and mental health concerns plagued the squad.
🧠 Key Lessons for Bangladesh Cricket Moving Forward:
- Ensure transparent, unified leadership among coaches and management.
- Protect confidential team matters from media leaks.
- Provide mental health support and clear communication to players.
- Avoid last-minute captaincy changes before key tournaments.
- Define and empower roles like Team Director with proper authority.
