C T Online Desk: Bangladesh one-day international team captain and opener Tamim Iqbal’s saga of sudden retirement from international cricket has once again exposed and raised questions on the method of Chandika Hathurusingha role as head coach while operating the team.
Tamim is the latest chapter in the long list of issues that Bangladesh cricket has seen with Hathurusingha including incidents of Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Shakib al Hasan, Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim in recent years.
Hathurusingha is serving a second stint with the Bangladesh national team starting earlier this year. The former Sri Lanka cricketer had ended the previous term with the Bangladesh Cricket Board [BCB] on a bitter note, despite success, and was later appointed as head coach of Sri Lanka cricket team but even there he could not survive for long following disputes with the team members including veteran Angelo Mathews.
His return to Bangladesh was amid chaos after Russell Domingo had quit the Bangladesh job in December last year. Though the influential members of the BCB, including the president Nazmul Hasan, had cited confidence and high hopes on Hathurusingha to turn the atmosphere in the national dressing room better – but it seems things are not turning to a better situation as expected.
It is understood that the unhealthy situation in the dressing room, that once was validated by BCB boss Nazmul to the media, has only elevated and the result of which is believed to be Tamim’s unexpected and shocking action of announcing his retirement in the middle of a series and just before the World Cup.
The left-handed batter however could not stand to his decision for more than a day as the Prime Minister of the country Sheikh Hasina intervened in the matter and instructed Tamim to withdraw his decision.
“I can say no to everyone but it is impossible for me to say no to the Prime [Sheikh Hasina] of the country. I had an extensive meeting her along with Mashrafe bhai [Bin Mortaza] and Papon bhai [Nazmul Hasan]. I have decided to withdraw my retirement,” said Tamim to the media following a three-hour long meeting with the Prime Minister at her residence on Friday.
The whole situation is believed to have placed Hathurusingha in an uncomfortable situation, as the matter did not remain within the walls of the BCB.
Tamim’s action saw an uproar not only in the cricket fraternity of the country but amongst the common people and eventually with the Prime Minister getting involved, it is understood that Hathurusingha has come under immense pressure – even from the quarters he had strong backing from.
It has been learnt that Hathurusingha is wondering if he has been a major reason for the situation and has been discussing the matter with the members of the team.
There has not been an interaction between Hathurusingha and the media since the Tamim issue thus his reaction is yet unknown.
Tamim is now on a month-and-a-half-long leave, sanctioned by PM Sheikh Hasina. It is still unclear if Tamim will be seen in action during the Asia Cup 2023 or have a direct entry to the camp for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 scheduled to take place in India in about three months’ time.
And the latest discussion now is how the BCB and Hathurusingha will cope with the return of Tamim and stay on track for the upcoming major events.
