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'When I Watch It, I Turn Off The TV' - Bangladesh Head Coach Ridicules BPL

image-lt1b2g7cChandika Hathurusingha with Shakib Al Hasan (BCB)

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha is not impressed with the quality of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2024 season. The former Sri Lankan all-rounder believes that the tournament needs more local representation in the form of uncapped players.

Hathurusingha also urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to step in and bring some regulations involving players' availability in franchise cricket overall.


Bangladesh coach says he turns off TV during BPL

Chandika Hathurusingha recently claimed that Bangladesh does not have a proper T20 tournament, and the BPL 2024 does not have players of the right calibre.

The former Sri Lankan cricketer even claimed he turns off his television whenever BPL matches come up. While speaking with ESPNCricinfo, he said:

“We don't have a proper T20 tournament. This sounds very odd. When I am watching the BPL, I sometimes turn off the TV. Some players are not even of the (required) class.”

Hathurusingha questioned players who participate in several T20 tournaments and keep changing allegiance from one franchise to another in a short timeframe. 

The 55-year-old urged the ICC to impose certain regulations on such franchise-based T20 tournaments to give the youngsters more opportunities and preserve the fans' interest. He added:

“I have a big issue with the current system. The ICC need to step in. There has to be some regulations. A player is playing one tournament and then he is playing another tournament. People will lose interest.”

Chandika Hathurusingha was appointed head coach of the Bangladesh team in 2023. He has previously coached UAE and Sri Lanka and landed coaching stints in Australia through New South Wales and Sydney Thunder.

Meanwhile, the BPL 2024 season kicked off on January 19 with a match between Comilla Victorians and Durdanto Dhaka. Following the tournament's conclusion on March 1, Bangladesh will host Sri Lanka for three T20Is, three ODIs and two Test matches.

They will subsequently host Zimbabwe for a five-match T20I series as part of their 2024 T20 World Cup roadmap.