In the hot seat once again

After more than five years, Chandika Hathurusinghe is back in a Bangladesh kit, and also back in the hot seat as the Sri Lankan attended his first press conference after joining as the new head coach of the Bangladesh national team.

Hathurusinghe resigned from the same role in October 2017 in the middle of the Tigers’ South Africa tour and joined Sri Lanka as head coach, from which he was later sacked.

Before his resignation, Hathurusinghe was criticised by the fans for his ruthless coaching manner, and after, for the path he took to leave his role in Bangladesh. Following his departure, Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan told the media that the Sri Lankan left because he believed he had nothing more to give to Bangladesh Cricket.

Apparently, he has; and informed that he had been offered his current job several times in his sacking. The Lankan also added that he has been following Bangladesh cricket and that he understood the fray better now.

“I've always followed Bangladesh cricket. I have always had a soft corner for Bangladesh cricket. I wanted to come back to Bangladesh someday.

“Compared to my previous stint as Bangladesh's coach, I am more experienced now. I know better about Bangladesh cricket. And it's not just me who will guide Bangladesh cricket forward, but the local coaches have a role too and they have been doing really well over the years,” Hathurasinghe said.

He also joked about his coaching style, “If you ask me if I will be changed as a coach this time compared to my previous stint, I would say that this time I am a bit older (laughs).”

Bangladesh National Team’s camp for the upcoming England series began on Wednesday under Hathurusinghe although the Lankan said he would treat this series as an opportunity to observe.

“I would like to observe the players in the upcoming series. For now, I am relying on the observation and opinions of the other members to judge the team,” he said.

Hathurusinghe’s predecessor, Russell Domingo was under scrutiny for a long time before he eventually left his post last December, and in his tenure, the South African helped Bangladesh create a pace-bowling core.

The Sri Lankan, though, is known for introducing the usage of doctored pitches in Bangladesh cricket, which helped them win Tests against England and Australia.

It seems like Hathurusinghe has no plans to change his ways.

“Choosing spinners at home is about taking advantage of the home ground. When we are in New Zealand, we will go for pacers, and this is what every country does,” he explained.

However, the bigger question this year is the ODI World Cup in India, and the Bangladesh head coach did not want to raise hopes.

“I can't tell you now where I will guide the team in the ICC event. For now, I am looking to create a good combination for the team,” he said.

Hathurusinghe also praised the players ahead of his first series.

“Many players have been playing well for Bangladesh. Young players have also come up and played well. So being with that team is always great. It motivates me the most.

“The senior players have been playing great roles for Bangladesh. I don't think their roles will change much,” he said.

For now, Hathurusinghe is, well and truly, back. It’s time to focus on the England series now with him at the helm, the only opposition to beat him as a Bangladesh coach at home in an ODI series.

The Sri Lankan, though, hopes that improvement arrives in the other

formats too.

“Test cricket is very competitive. T20 is more popular now. So we have to find our own game plan. As a nation, we know how to play ODI cricket. We need to do well in other formats as well,” he said.