‘Leaked email’ helped Hathuru
CT Sports: Bangladesh's Head Coach Chandika Hathurusinghe who changed the fortunes of Bangladesh cricket by transforming them from minnows to a top competitive team revealed an interesting story about how a leaked email exchanged between former SL captain Kumar Sangakkara and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) helped to shape up his career after he was unfairly sacked by SLC years ago.
"I was sacked with two months' salary. Then I had to decide whether I'm going to be a local coach or going away with my family.
I decided to go to Australia and follow my passion so without any pre-arranged job I decided to migrate with my young family."
"After we got to Australia, within two weeks I got an email from New South Wales cricket saying if I am going to be in the country come and meet us. When I got there a few days later, since I did not have much internet access I got the email late, I saw an article in front of General Manager's office.
"The article was what Sanga (Kumar Sangakkara) has written about my coaching and trying to persuade to keep me in the job (with SLC). That article was published because Sanga had sent a private email about me to the board (Then President of SLC Interim Committee D.S. de Silva). The board had leaked it to the media too, may be to spite Sangakkara and it worked in my favour. That article helped me to get an interview with NSW cricket," said Hathurusinghe during his speech at the Change Forum yesterday at Dialog Axiata Colombo.
Hathurusinghe started that journey with NSW who got him the job in Bangladesh as their cricket head coach and he came to Sri Lanka with their emerging brand of cricket and showed the whole world what an asset Sri Lanka had lost due to some controversial decisions taken by SLC authorities back then, that sacked Hathurusinghe as Sri Lanka's shadow coach.
In 2015 itself Bangladesh had beaten Pakistan 3-0, India 2-1, South Africa 2-1, Zimbabwe 3-0, Afghanistan 2-1 at home before they came to Sri Lanka and beat islanders in Tests' to square the series and now lead the ODI series 1-0 with Sri Lanka having no chance of winning the series due to the rain washout of the second one.
Hathurusinghe also recalled his omission from the 1999 and 2003 World Cups which pursued him to give up domestic cricket and start a career in coaching.
"I was player of the tournament in the domestic tournament for three consecutive years and wasn't selected for 2003 World Cup. Wasn't even selected for an A team tour. And I was working for Sampath Bank who told me if I'm not in the National Team they can't give me leave. So I had to make a decision whether to work for Sampath Bank or go abroad to pursue my passion. I followed my passion," said Hathurusinghe.