'Coach violated rules'

The chairman of Bangladesh Cricket Board's cricket operations committee, Naimur Rahman, expressed his discontent over the way head coach Chandika Hathurusingha had spoken on Bangladesh's team selection following the World Cup.

After Bangladesh's World Cup exit from the quarterfinals, Hathurusingha told reporters that he didn't think that the team that toured Australia and New Zealand was their 'best squad' and also stated that he wasn't happy with a 'few of the selections'.

It is a known fact that the Sri Lankan had vouched for leg-spinner Jubair Hossain prior to the World Cup; something that was made public by the BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon himself.

"He is not authorised to talk that way. The comments that he made ultimately breached the code of conduct. When the selectors give the team, the president approves it. So these statements go against the board and the board president.

"Such statements can affect players as well. A player's mindset may change when he sees that the coach is blindly vouching for him or when he notices that the coach is neglecting him," Naimur told reporters at Mirpur yesterday.

"If the coach wants to be a part of the selection committee he needs to say that to me and not just to the media. I think it's a case of highlighting one's personal glory here. He wanted to highlight that he was a very successful coach… at least that's what the interview meant to me… that had he gotten the players he wanted, Bangladesh would have gone on to have won the trophy.

"I have reported my observation to the board. Whether they are going to give him a letter or not that now depends on the CEO," he added.

When asked regarding the issue, BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said, "This is an internal matter and I cannot comment on this issue."