A top level Aravinda – Ford alliance in the offing
Would former Sri Lanka batting ace Aravinda de Silva wear another feather in his cap by becoming the Director of coaching of Sri Lanka – a position that was styled by Ravi Shastri of India? Shastri has been operating in this position from September last year with head coach Duncan Fletcher, keeping tab on the day-to-day affairs of the Indian national team.
Ara back in the saddle
A senior spokesman for Sri Lanka Cricket told the Sunday Times “The President of SLC Thilanga Sumathipala has been in conversation with several past captains of the Sri Lanka team to see how they could be of assistance to the betterment of the national team qualitatively.”
Now a leading business personality, Aravinda de Silva – who is also a close associate of the SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala served as the vice president of Sri Lanka Cricket, where at one juncture he backed the Provincial Cricket doctrine very closely. Aravinda was also the chief national cricket selector when the Lankan team ended as the runners-up in 2011 in the ICC cricket World Cup. However soon after completion of the tournament, de Silva resigned from his position.
If he takes up this position he would form a team with the South African born Graham Ford who has been appointed as head coach of Sri Lanka Cricket for a four year stint commencing February 1.
It is also learned that stand in coach Jerome Jayaratne is likely to remain in the loop as manager cum assistant coach of the national team on a short term basis to make the transition more fluid. Jayaratne and Ford will take Sri Lanka cricket as a team upto the T-20 World Cup it is learned. The duties of the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team would be entrusted to national coach Davenell Whatmore.
Meanwhile Romesh Kaluwitharana whose contract as the ‘A’ team was not renewed told the Sunday Times that he met the minister of Sports Dayasiri Jayasekera on a formal note and he was not looking for a renewal of his contract in any manner. Sri Lanka Cricket has decided to nominate Romesh Kaluwitharana to the Technical Committee of the Asia Cricket Council for Asia Cup 2016.
Coming back to Ford, his major assignment with the national team would be the gruelling tour of England and Ireland. The Lankans will play three Tests, five ODIs and a T-20 match against England while there would be two ODIs against Ireland. They will also meet two county teams prior to the Test series.
Sri Lanka’s tour of England 2016:
- Wed 4 May – Sri Lanka arrive
- Sun 8-Tue 10 May – 3-day v Essex – Chelmsford
- Fri 13-Sun 15 May – 3-day v Leicestershire – Grace Rd, Leicester
- Thu 19-Mon 23 May – 1st Investec Test – Headingley
- Fri 27-Tue 31 May – 2nd Investec Test – Emirates Durham ICG
- Thu 9-Mon 13 June – 3rd Investec Test – Lord’s
- Thu 16 June – 1st ODI v Ireland – Ireland venue tbc
- Sat 18 June – 2nd ODI v Ireland – Ireland venue tbc
- Tue 21 June – 1st Royal London ODI D/N – Trent Bridge
- Fri 24 June – 2nd Royal London ODI D/N – Edgbaston
- Sun 26 June – 3rd Royal London ODI – Bristol
- Wed 29 June – 4th Royal London ODI D/N – Kia Oval
- Sat 2 July – 5th Royal London ODI – SWALEC, Cardiff
- Tue 5 July – NatWest IT20 (f) – Ageas Bowl, Southampton
- Wed 6 July – Sri Lanka depart