It Has Taken 20 Years For Me To Come Back, Says Sri Lanka’s New Manager Asanka Gurusinha
Mar 2, 2017 at 4:06 PM
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have named former Test cricketer Asanka Gurusinha as the national cricket team’s new manager to work alongside coach Graham Ford and its manager Ranjit Fernando.
The former top-order batsman Gurusinha, who is expected to be in Colombo on Saturday to join the Lankan contingent for the first Test against Bangladesh, was a part of the Sri Lankan squad which won the 1996 World Cup in Lahore against Australia by seven wickets.
“I know that it has taken 20 years for me to come back, but I am very excited and keen,” Gurusinha was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
“I have lot of respect for head coach Graham Ford and I am really looking forward to work closely with him,” Gurusinha added.
Gurusinha will have his contract until the 2019 World Cup, which is scheduled in England.
“SLC has been constantly in touch with me for different roles. I thought this is the right time for me. This is a very young side and I can add value to this team,” Gurusinha remarked.
According to a report, the board is also mulling to rope in Gurusinha as a member of SLC selection committee member.
“I saw the team during the recent T20 series in Australia. I was impressed with their attitude,” Gurusinha further added.
The Level 3 coach Gurusinha, who had also served as the regional coach in Australia, has a lot of experience on his back which will be fruitful for the national side.
“We are enhancing our resource team with professionals to achieve or national objective. It is indeed welcome news that Gura will be coming on board with our vision for One Team One Nation,” Hon. Thilanga Sumathipala, the President of Sri lanka Cricket said on the first assignment of Gurusinha
Gurusinha was also the recipient of Deshabandu award after playing a significant role in 1996 World Cup.
The former wicket-keeper batsman made his international debut against Pakistan in November 1985. He played 147 One-day Internationals and 41 Tests and scored 3,902 and 2,452 runs respectively.
The first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will start from March 7 in Galle.