Haven't been approached to be SL coach - Hathurusingha

Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusingha has said that he has not been contacted to fill the Sri Lanka head coach position. It is understood that SLC is interested in pursuing Hathurusingha but no official approach has been made yet.

There were reports in the media earlier this month that SLC preferred him as their first-choice to replace Marvan Atapattu, who resigned on September 3, but Hathurusingha, in his first press conference after returning from holiday in Australia, quashed those speculations. SLC, meanwhile, has appointed Jerome Jayaratne as an interim coach for the upcoming home series against West Indies.

"No official contact has been made to me," Hathurusingha said. "As a professional coach, whenever there is an opportunity for a job sometimes your name comes up. That's all I have to say.

"At this point in time, the most important thing for me is coaching Bangladesh and making sure we win the next series. Coaching your own country is something anyone will like to do, but there has to be a right time."

Hathurusingha has been Bangladesh's head coach since May 2014 and he has led the team through some major highs, including their first ever 3-0 Test series whitewash, their maiden trip into the World Cup's knockout stages and historic ODI series wins over Pakistan, India and South Africa. He is also known to have a good relationship with BCB president Nazmul Hassan.

"At this stage I am very happy with what I am doing. Not only the players and my staff, even the board has given us a lot of support. We are doing well and everything is falling into place," he said.

Last year, when the BCB was trying to convince Hathurusingha to join the Bangladesh team, he had expressed interest in the Sri Lanka job. But Atapattu had been chosen instead.

Given all the success since November 2014, the BCB has made it clear that it has long-term plans with him, which Hathurusingha sees as job security.

"It is the confidence [from such plans]. If your boss is saying they are happy with me and have a plan, it gives you a lot of security. I am very thankful," he said.