Sri Lanka Cricket Likely To Change The Coaching Staffs After The Bangladesh Series
Jul 19, 2019 at 11:47 AM
According to the local media report, the Sri Lankan sports minister has demanded the resignation of all coaching staffs of the national cricket team. So, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is likely to change all the coaching staffs after the upcoming home ODI series against Bangladesh.
Former Sri Lankan cricketer Chandika Hathurusingha is the present head coach of the national cricket team. On the other hand, Jon Lewis and Steve Rixon are the batting and fielding coach respectively.
Under their tenure, Sri Lanka finished in the sixth position in the recently concluded 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. In that tournament, Sri Lanka earned eight points in nine matches along with three victories and two no results. Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan, hosts England and Windies in the recently concluded Cricket World Cup.
Jon Lewis and Steve Rixon’s contracts have ended with Sri Lanka’s final journey in the 2019 CWC. However, Hathurusingha still has 16 months left on his present contract.
We’re looking at that same line – Sri Lanka Cricket President
Talking about the elimination of coaching staffs, the SLC President Shammi Silva has claimed that they are looking at the same line like the Sri Lankan president.
Silva said according to ESPNcricinfo, “We’re looking at that same line, but we (the board) will see what we can do when we come back. We first need to talk with the minister.
“The team has nothing to do with the coaching staff. It only becomes a problem if the players have bonded with the coaches. I don’t think it will affect the tour (series against Bangladesh).”
However, the SLC President has also given a hint to consider retaining some of those coaching staffs.
Silva added, “There are a few guys who are doing ok. We have already done an evaluation (prior to the World Cup), but we need to do another one after the World Cup, and after that only we have to have a discussion with the minister and see what happens.”
Bangladesh will tour of Sri Lanka to play a three-match bilateral ODI series against the hosts from 26th to 31st July.
After this Bangladesh series, Sri Lanka will be busy in their home international series against New Zealand. Sri Lanka will play two Tests and three T20Is against New Zealand from 14th August to 6th September. The Test series against New Zealand will be Sri Lanka’s first journey in the 2019–21 ICC World Test Championship.
Sri Lanka is currently the sixth-ranked Test team, eighth-ranked ODI team and eighth-ranked T20I team.