Graeme Ford’s name resurfacing as next Lanka Head Coach
Dav Whatmore and Graeme Ford are likely to team up in the Sri Lanka coaching unit
The foreign coach concept has enveloped Sri Lanka Cricket, with the advent of the new administration which was voted in to power led by Thilanga Sumathipala last Sunday. Vice President in charge of International Cricket – Jayantha Dharmadasa told the Sunday Times “Yes, we have been busy talking in earnest to the people concerned. We have decided to advertise the position of Head Coach during the next few days. Right at the moment we are reluctant to publicise any names. The last time that happened where some names reached the media, some leading contenders withdrew their applications; no we are rather careful this time.”
Vice President Dharmadasa further revealed that they are going to take a very close look at the entire coaching structure and added “That will happen from the under 13 stage to ‘A’ team level”.Coming back to the top grade – the last foreign coach to handle the Lankan national team was South African born Graeme Ford who held the job till he decided to quit after the third Test against Pakistan in Sharjah in January 2014.
Thereafter there was a huge move to push for a local coach and the name of little known Mark Davis who played first class cricket in England and South Africa was eventually dropped. Former Sri Lanka captain and opening batsman Marvan Atapattu was entrusted with the job in 2014 and he oversaw the job through the ICC World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. But, soon after Atapattu sent his resignation in late 2015.
However according to insiders the name of Graeme Ford has sprung up again, but, there questions about his availability and even if he is interested the contract would have long duration of about three years, it is said. Meanwhile Jerome Jayaratne – the head of coaching at SLC, who was thrust upon the job of Interim Head coach will revert his former position, once the new head coach is instituted.
The same insiders said that they would also be interested in having a one-to-one meeting with former national coach Davenell Whatmore to handle the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team. Meanwhile the new SLC committee will look in earnest about its workforce. During the last Interim Committee tenure a number of employees were made permanent, but, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera held that in limbo till the new administration took office. According to reports 69 Management, 73 Executive, 26 clerical and 54 Minor staff personnel adding up to 222 are in the work force and the Human Resources Department to take a close scrutiny of it.