Hathurusingha Denies Slapping Nasum, Says He Fled Bangladesh Fearing for His Life

Former Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has strongly denied allegations that he slapped cricketer Nasum Ahmed during the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup. Supporting his claim, former assistant coaches Rangana Herath and Nic Pothas have also stated there was no such incident.

Speaking to Australian media outlet Code Sports, Hathurusingha revealed that he had to flee Bangladesh fearing for his life, particularly during a time of political turmoil and widespread student protests that had brought the country to a standstill. He said the deteriorating security situation left him feeling genuinely unsafe, prompting his departure.

Hathurusingha was dismissed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for allegedly breaching the board’s code of conduct. While he has consistently denied these allegations, he now claims that his dismissal was premeditated by the newly appointed BCB president, Faruque Ahmed.

"I never had any altercations with players. I never show emotion in front of them. If I'm frustrated, I might kick a bin—any coach might. But what is being said is the exact opposite of reality," Hathurusingha explained.
"Since October, I’ve missed so many opportunities—I’ve lost count. The whole thing was a setup by the board to terminate my contract. This was a decision pre-planned by the new president," he added.

The alleged slapping incident, which surfaced during the 2023 World Cup, could not be verified by the previous BCB administration under Nazmul Hassan Papon. However, under the new leadership of Faruque Ahmed, Hathurusingha was removed from his position.

Backing Hathurusingha, former assistant coaches Nic Pothas and Rangana Herath have both publicly stated that the incident never occurred.
"Nothing like that ever happened," said Nic Pothas.
Rangana Herath added, "I can say this clearly—I was there, and nothing happened. Slapping someone and physically attacking them are two entirely different things, and neither took place."