BCB appoints Hathurusingha as head coach

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has appointed former Sri Lanka all-rounder Chandika Hathurusingha as the head coach.

BCB president Nazmul Hasan Papon officially announced the name of the Sri Lankan at a press conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur in Dhaka on Monday evening.

Hathurusingha will replace Shane Jugersen. The Australian resigned as the head coach of Bangladesh cricket team after the World Twenty20 tournament.

Besides, former Sri Lankan first-class cricketer Mario Villavarayan, who previously worked with the Sri Lankan team as a fitness coach, has been appointed as the trainer of the Bangladesh national cricket team.

Earlier, the BCB held talks with Hathurusingha, who was the assistant coach of the New South Wales Sheffield Shield team of Australia since September 2012.

The 45 year-old Sri Lankan left his position there earlier to take up the Bangladesh job.

Hathurusingha, who signed a two-year contract with BCB, will begin work from 1 July.

The BCB, however, has requested him to takeover the job earlier since the Indian cricket team will visit Bangladesh on 13 June to play three one-day international (ODI) matches.

All the three matches will be played at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium at Mirpur on June 15, 17 and 19.

Hathurusingha led the New South Wales team in the second half of the 2012-13 season before being offered the head coach role with the Sydney Thunder last season.

He had a positive influence on the Thunder in Australia's Big Bash League, forming a strong partnership with captain Mike Hussey and making the side competitive throughout the season.