Hathurusingha returns for second spell

Following months of speculation, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed through a press release on Tuesday that Chandika Hathurusingha had been appointed head coach of the national team for the second time.

Hathurusingha agreed to a two-year deal, starting from February 2023, and will be in charge of the national team across all three formats. The BCB, however, said that it is yet to decide on the role of Sridharan Sriram, who was appointed as technical consultant for the T20 unit till the T20 World Cup in November last year.

Hathurusingha is set to arrive by February 20, with his first assignment being the white-ball series against England, including three ODIs and as many T20Is, at home, starting from March 1.

Speculation about Hathurusingha's arrival had been rife since former head coach Russell Domingo tendered his resignation in December last year. Domingo had a contract with the BCB till the 2023 ODI World Cup, set to be played in October-November in India.

This is set to be Hathurusingha's second stint as Bangladesh coach, having previously served from 2014 to 2017.

"It's an honour to have been given this opportunity to coach the Bangladesh national team once again. I really loved the warmth of the people and the culture of Bangladesh whenever I have been there. I'm looking forward to working with the players once again and enjoying their successes," Hathurusingha was quoted as saying in the BCB press release.

Hathurusingha's first stint with the BCB ended on a sour note, with the Sri Lankan tendering his resignation during Bangladesh's tour of South Africa in 2017 to take over as Sri Lanka's head coach.

However, BCB president Nazmul Hassan Papon said that the 54-year-old's reappointment was welcomed by senior cricketers, including Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan, and Tamim Iqbal.

Papon also informed that the BCB was looking for an assistant coach to help Hathurusingha share some of the workload.

"We are looking for an assistant coach. It is not possible for everyone to be available for every series," Papon said, adding that the board has already held talks with a few prospective candidates for the role.