Cricket: 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.

A senior spokesman for Sri Lanka Cricket said: “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.