Roquibul asked for ‘explanation’ following comments on Hathurusingha

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) today held a discussion with BCB chief match referee Roquibul Hasan to ask for an explanation regarding his criticism of the board's recruitment of head coach Chandika Hathurusingha in a recent interview. However, comments made in another interview which was released this evening is now stirring things up.

The former captain came to the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today afternoon and was seen entering BCB CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury's office.

Roquibul had made a few comments regarding coach selection and recruitment in a recent interview which the board did not take lightly. As a BCB official, he was asked regarding the comments.

"The thing is that they wanted to get an explanation regarding what was said in an interview," Roquibul told The Daily Star today over phone.

"It was not a hearing or anything like that. Since I am with BCB, naturally I have to be within code of conduct. They felt hurt so naturally they wanted to be little clearer. There was some misrepresentation in the interview where they cut a few of the parts and made the content. They wanted to hear from me," he added.

However, one TV channel released another interview today where Roquibul made some comments regarding Chandika Hathurusingha's son, questioning the motives behind why the head coach's son had been in close vicinity of the national team.

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha (L) with his son (R) during the practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today.

"I will request [Nazmul Hassan] Papon bhai to look into this matter. There are a few things which do not go with professional sports," Roquibul had said in the latest interview.

The Daily Star asked BCB CEO regarding the matter.

"Roquibul bhai is with us as chief match referee and some of the things said in the media was discussed by the board. We wanted to discuss those things and that's why we talked to him. It wasn't like he was called in," Nizamuddin said about today's discussion with Roquibul.

Asked about the latest interview which speculated on Hathurusingha's son, the BCB CEO suggested that they will sit down with Roquibul again after a discussion among themselves.

Asked if there was an explanation sought regarding comments on Hathurusingha's son, Nizamuddin said: "This thing [latest interview] came out today. We discussed the things that Roquibul bhai had said in the media previously. The board had a few concerns. We did not bring up the latest interview in our discussion."

"We have to discuss and know what the context was first and what information he [Roquibul] has on the basis of which he said those things. Basically, Hathurusingha's son is here to spend a few days with his father and since his studies are sports related, he is here to take a practical idea on how a sports team runs. That's all there is to it," the BCB CEO said when asked if a show-cause notice would be served to the BCB chief match referee.