Bangladesh Coach Hathurusinghe to Miss Final Test Against Sri Lanka Due to Personal Reasons, Returns Home

Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are locking horns with each other in a two-match Test series. They lost the first Test match by a huge margin of 328 runs. The team is gearing up for the second Test match. In between this, Bangladesh’s head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe will be absent from the second and final Test match against Sri Lanka. That is a setback for the team. 

 Chandika Hathurusinghe’s Absence:

Bangladesh’s head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe will be absent from the second and final Test match against Sri Lanka, set to commence in Chattogram on Saturday. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has cited “personal reasons” for Hathurusinghe’s departure back to Australia. As of now, no specific return date has been confirmed, leaving his absence open-ended.

In Hathurusinghe’s absence, assistant coach Nic Pothas will assume the role of the head coach for the duration of the match. Pothas, previously the head coach of the West Indians national team, brings significant coaching experience to the role. His familiarity with the players and tactics could prove invaluable as Bangladesh seeks to navigate the challenge posed by Sri Lanka in the upcoming Test match.

Shakib’s Return to the Test Squad:

Bangladesh faced a 328-run loss in the first Test, concluding on the fourth afternoon. Ahead of the Test match, Bangladesh secured victory in the ODI series, while Sri Lanka claimed the T20I series with matching 2-1 margins.

In a significant development for Bangladesh, Shakib Al Hasan rejoins the squad for the second Test against Sri Lanka, commencing on March 30. Although Shakib was diagnosed with a retinal condition in January, the Bangladesh medical team remains hopeful of managing it effectively with conservative measures.

The inclusion of Shakib, who last played a Test in April 2023, sees Tawhid Hridoy make way in the squad. Although Hridoy was part of the 15-member squad for the first Test, he did not feature in the XI, paving the way for Shakib’s return to bolster Bangladesh’s hopes of leveling the Test series against Sri Lanka.

Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram