Cricket: Hashan and Chandana given SLC assignments

According to sources close to the cricketing circle, it is reliably understood that former national cricket stars Hashan Tillekeratne and Upul Chandana are to given with coaching assignments of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) soon. 

Tillekeratne is to be given the job of batting coach while Chandana would have the task of handling fielding. 

However the significance of these two appointments is that both former cricketers will not be handling the national teams. 

Like the appointment of Chaminda Vaas who also was given the task of being the leading bowling coach, these two also would be handling the second string of cricketers who are in the national loop. 

Tillekeratne who was one of the best No 7 batsmen in the country was a member of the 1996 World Cup winning squad while Chandana – one of the best fielders in the country in the same era, was also in the same squad though he did not play in a single match during that tournament. 

Even though some may feel this is a prudent effort, some insiders feel that this is more an effort to keep a former national hero in the loop rather than making optimum use of the talent at hand. 

At the same time some few days ago Hashan Tillekeratne’s wife Apsari also was given employment by the Thilanga Sumathipala administration -- a job pertaining to women’s cricket.