Sports Desk:

Did Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha get a lifeline after their maiden Test win over Pakistan in Rawalpindi?

It seems to be a million dollar question considering the fact that the newly-elected Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Faruque Ahmed publicly claimed that the Sri Lankan’s future is uncertain in the national dressing room despite his contract runs till the Champions Trophy 2025.

“I am yet to find out about Chandika Hathurusingha’s contract. I have to see some stuff officially but I have not moved from my previous stance,” Faruque said during first press briefing after being elected as BCB boss last week.

Did Hathurusingha get a lifeline?“I have to speak to my colleague over the next two or three days, and see if we can find someone better than him. We have to prepare a shortlist, and see who wants to join us,” he added.

BCB director Nazmul Abedin said that he credits Hathurusingha for the massive win against Pakistan but he also insisted that a coach should be judged on his long-term performance.

“As a coach, I can say that the dressing room is in good condition from what I’ve seen,” Nazmul, who is known to be one of the leading local coaches in the country.

“Coach has a role to play behind this. You have to give him (Hathurusingha) the credit for this. You have to assess a coach from his long term work,” he said.

Nazmul added that media need to take the blame for not promoting local coaches as many feel the Bangladesh Tigers camp did wonders for the squad members of the Test squad as they trained under Sohel Islam and Mizanur Rahman along with other local coaches since 25 May.

BCB also opted to send six Test cricketers to Bangladesh A squad for the opening four-day game of the two-match series as part of preparation.

Hathurusingha joined the national cricket team weeks before the preparation camp in Dhaka which was scheduled from first week of August but had to be postponed due to the political unrest that forced BCB to send the Test squad earlier than scheduled to have a three-day practice camp in Lahore before reaching Islamabad to play the opening Test.

Bangladesh batsman Mushfiqur Rahim, who scored a match-winning 191 against Pakistan to help the tourists earn their maiden Test win over their Asian neighbours, on 25 August, credited their long-term preparation for their maiden Test win over Pakistan.

“Media has to take the blame (regarding local coaches. Maybe we don’t appreciate them enough from the board as well. But the media doesn’t highlight much regarding their contribution. We want everyone’s contribution to be duly addressed because it’s really important. There is a lot of work done behind a team, if we can do the little things well, we can do well. In that case, every work needs to be appreciated. Our local coaches definitely did a good job, the long training camp that they had, there was an effect of it,” Nazmul concluded.