Chandika Hathurusingha, the former Bangladesh coach was unceremoniously sacked, after allegedly slapping a player, during the World Cup 2023 in India. And since then, the events that unfolded, quite a bit of toll on the Sri Lankan coach. Speaking to Code Sport, the ex-coach relived the worst days of his life, where he not only had to flee from the country, but also run away to save his life; or at least that is what he thought.
When Chandika Hathurusingha Had to Flee Bangladesh
That was also the time when Bangladesh was going through a political turmoil. “The Bangladesh CEO’s last words to me was that his advice was I should go. You don’t need to tell any of the board people, do you have a ticket to go?’ This was a warning sign for me. That’s when I got a little bit alarmed,” Hathurusingha was quoted on Code Sport.
He then opened up on the circumstances which were a bit unusual. “Normally I get a driver and a gunman when travelling around in that country. He said, ‘did you get your gunman and your driver today?’ I said, no, ‘I only had the driver,” he said.
Even just respectfully taking his dues from the country, and going back had become a problem for Hathurusingha. “I went straight to the bank, trying to get the money to leave the country. While I was in the bank there was a breaking news story on the TV; ‘Chandika sacked. Assaulted a player,” he added. “When that came up, the bank manager said, ‘coach, I have to come with you. It is not safe for you if people see you on the roads.’
Ex-coach Reiterates, He Did Not Slap BAN Player
“Now I’m panicking because I need to get out of the country. A friend drove me to the airport for a midnight flight on Singapore Airlines and I’m arriving in a cap and a hoodie and there’s no protection,” he said.
Going back to the incident — something really unimportant was blown out of proportion. In the NZ vs BAN clash in Chennai, he allegedly slapped Nasum Ahmed — when it actually was juts a tap. “I have never had a fight with a player. I don’t show emotion to my players. Maybe I’ve kicked a dustbin out of sight from frustration – that’s happened to any coach.
“But that’s very different to what this is. It’s weighing on me. I don’t know how many opportunities I’ve missed from October to now, there has been so many. This is just them trying to end my contract. It was pre-meditated by the new President.”
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