With it being 21st February, BCB offices were vacant on Chandika Hathurusingha's first day at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium at Mirpur on his return. The Sri Lankan had landed last night and showed up at the optional practice session today and ahead of the day's activities, a meet-and-greet took place in the middle of the field.

It has been over five-and-a-half years since Chandika last set foot as the Bangladesh coach before he departed in 2017 to take over the Sri Lanka head coach role. After all this time, on his return, new and old faces greeted the Sri Lankan on his first day at Mirpur.

He entered the field and met Najmul Hossain Shanto at first in presence of spin coach Rangana Herath. The trio were sharing a light moment with smiles all around when ODI captain Tamim Iqbal joined in. Taskin Ahmed had debuted under Hathurusingha and came along with another pacer Ebadot Hossain with the latter getting a salute from Chandika before Taskin got a pat on the back.

Read more

Expectations heightened for Hathurusingha’s return

One by one, Taijul Islam, Nasum Ahmed, Rejaur Rahman Raja, Shoriful Islam, Towhid Hridoy, Nurul Hasan Sohan and Yasir Ali, all who were going through their grinds in the practice session, came in to welcome the coach. Soon a circle gathered around the Sri Lankan with Afif Hossain, Hasan Mahmud also joining in along with manager Nafees Iqbal in the mini reunion. 

The head coach then went towards the centre and shared a few light moments with compatriot Gamini de Silva, the curator who had been in charge during Hathurusingha's previous tenure as well. The two were seen in discussion that possibly related to a brief know-how regarding conditions ahead of the upcoming series against England. Tamim later joined the duo in a during brief discussion. 

BCB director Khaled Mahmud came in to greet the newly-arrived coach in the field before Chandika departed for the dressing room to hold a meeting with ODI captain Tamim and former team director Mahmud. The players continued their optional session either in the centre field or the indoor stadium with all the coaching staff present at Mirpur today.

"It's been good and he knows most of the players so hoping for good things. I think technically he is very good with plans and I feel that he has already done his homework before arriving here," Sohan said on his experience today while talking to the media.

Test and T20I skipper Shakib Al Hasan, currently in USA due to a family emergency, is yet to join the side alongside Mushfiqur Rahim, Mahmudullah Riyad and Mehedi Hasan Miraz.