The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has suspended national cricket team head coach Chandika Hathurusingha. He is also reportedly set to be removed from his position as head coach of the team. Hathurusingha, on October 15, 2024, was suspended for 48 hours and is to be "terminated immediately".

This comes after Bangladesh was soundly defeated by India in the two-Test, three-T20I series in India recently. India defeated Bangladesh in the second Test in Kanpur in only two days and then in the third and final T20I, India posted 297/6, the highest team total by a full-member nation in T20Is.

In February of last year, Hathurusingha returned for his second term as Bangladesh's coach. Former captains reacted differently, with current BCB president Faruque Ahmed questioning the board's choice to invite him back at the time.

Bangladesh under Hathurusingha performed poorly in last year's ODI World Cup and this year's T20 World Cup campaign. His most notable achievement this term was Bangladesh's 2-0 Test series victory over Pakistan this year. It was their first triumph in Pakistan and the first overseas Test series victory in 15 years.

The former Sri Lankan all-rounder took over in January 2023 to propel Bangladesh cricket ahead, as he had done during his first spell from 2014 to 2017.

During that time, the national squad made significant development, notably in white-ball cricket, with strong performances in the 2017 Champions Trophy, securing automatic qualification for the 2019 ODI World Cup. 

As per ESPNCricinfo report, former West Indies cricketer and coach Phil Simmons will take over as head coach in an interim capacity till the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Simmons' recent stint in the coaching setup was with his own West Indies side whom he helmed from 2019 till the end of the Australian tour this year. His immediate assignment will be the two-match Test series at home against South Africa this month.