Mahela could join SL team as mentor
Franchise cricket’s most successful coach Mahela Jayawardene could be back in the Sri Lanka team dugout as a mentor for the World Cup. Jayawardene, who oversaw Mumbai Indians’ successful rein in IPL–helping them win three titles in four years as its head coach–was also head coach of the inaugural champions Southern Brave of the Hundred.
Appointing a mentor to the national team was under discussion for a while and the Cricket Committee headed by Aravinda de Silva believes Jayawardene is the right pick.
“If we are sending anyone, we will only go with Mahela if he is willing. He has proven himself to be a great coach and mentor and we would like him to share the dressing room with the players during the World Cup,” said Aravinda de Silva, Head of Cricket Technical Committee.
“We have given thought to this for a while and we are in the process of making a final decision about it”.
Following the T20 series defeat to South Africa, the selectors have also urged the Board to send a mentor for the World Cup to work closely with players and team management to support and provide direction to the players.
Sri Lanka were all at sea against South Africa in the T20 series, with players unsure of their specific role in the team, as the Proteas made a clean sweep in the three-match series.
Accordingly, the Cricket Technical Committee will talk to all parties–selectors, team management and Board–to clearly demarcate the job of the mentor in order to avoid differences of opinions and internal issues were they to appoint Jayawardene.
“We need to really identify the role of the mentor. We want to make sure that others around him are also comfortable. So we will discuss this with everyone and make the right call shortly,” de Silva added.
Team India has made MS Dhoni, the country’s most successful skipper, their team mentor for the World Cup.
Jayawardene is currently in UAE for the IPL. He is also working with the Sri Lanka U-19 team as a consultant coach. SLC recently appointed Avishka Gunawardena as head coach of the U-19 and he is collaborating closely with Jayawardene in preparing the team for next year’s Youth World Cup.
Meanwhile according to media reports Indian cricket board has approached Jayawardene to be the head coach of the Indian national team. However, he is said to have rejected the offer.
According to Indian Express, before deciding to approach Anil Kumble, the BCCI is learnt to have contacted current Mumbai Indians coach Jayawardene with the offer.