Bangladesh confident of Hathurusingha's stay

Bangladesh's cricket authorities expressed confidence Sunday that national head coach Chandika Hathurusingha will see out his contract despite interest from his native Sri Lanka.

"Anyone can want him as coach, but we have not spoken to him about Sri Lanka," Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hassan told reporters in Dhaka.

"We have a contract with him until World Cup 2019. We are confident he will stay up to that period," he said.

His comments came after Sri Lankan media revealed that Sri Lanka Cricket are in "discussion" with the former opening batsman to take over the side following the resignation of South African Graham Ford.

Ford stepped down in late June, half way through a 45-month contract and just two weeks after the team's early exit from the Champions Trophy.

Fielding coach Nic Pothas is in interim charge of the team that is currently playing a home series against Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka Cricket chief Thilanga Sumathipala said Pothas was being considered for promotion to permanent head coach while the cricket board has had several other expressions of interest over the job.

Those interested in the high profile position included "Sri Lankans," he told AFP last week.

Under Hathurusingha, Bangladesh has made big strides in world cricket and reached the semifinals of the Champions Trophy tournament in England.