Ramanayake to replace Vaas with immediate effect
SLC fast bowling Coach Champaka Ramanayake is to replace the National fast bowling Coach Chaminda Vaas with immediate effect.
Champaka Ramanayake and national cricket coach Marvan Atapatuu planning strategy on an earlier occassion
The recent bowling slump in the Lankan national squad has pushed the cricket hierarchy to seek the executive nod on a priority basis and have requested Ramanayake to be packed and ready.
The problem cropped even late last year when SLC Chief Executive Ashley de Silva had informed an emergency executive committee meeting that national team’s head coach Marvan Atapattu had demanded the removal of Vaas from the coaching team, saying that the former star left-arm bowler was not putting enough effort and contribution to improve fast bowling.
This came in the aftermath of the disastrous five ODI Indian tour where the Lankans lost all the matches played.
Vaas took over as the Lankan fast bowling coach from Champaka Ramanayake in February 2013, but the bowling slump was felt the most in 2014, in spite of Sri Lanka enjoying a rather successful year where the end results were concerned.
During that time Pakistan scored 302 runs in just 57.3 overs to win a Test match. Besides in 2014 there were 30 centuries scored against the Lankan bowling while on this present tour so far six centuries have been scored.
Stephen Fleming
Commenting on the issue a senior SLC spokesman said “We have requested Ramanayake to get ready for departure with immediate effect”.
Once Ramanayake takes over, Vaas will return to Sri Lanka.
It is learned that there had been a very high-level SLC discussion about the current developments in New Zealand.
Meanwhile the Lankan chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya was also sent to New Zealand on Friday in a bid to arrest the situation. While in New Zealand Jayasuriya will also continue negotiations with former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming to join the Lankan camp as a consultant. If the negotiations are successful Flemming will be with the Sri Lanka team till the end of the World Cup.