Another revamp in the offing?
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is set for some major changes in the coaching set-up with several former Sri Lankan players expected to join various positions from the Under-19 team to the national team.
The names of Roshan Mahanama, Mahela Jayawardene and Avishka Gunawardena have been discussed to assume some key positions within the national set-up but there is still no finality.
The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is keen to get Jayawardene to work with the national Under-19 team as a consultant as he cannot undertake a fulltime commitment due to his multiple commitments while Gunawardena is expected to take over the head coach position of either the Under-19 team or the Sri Lanka ‘A’ side.
Gunawardena, who was Sri Lanka ‘A’ team head coach, remained suspended for nearly two years since May 2019 for charges of corruption but was cleared to resume in April this year.
“He is a very good coach,” a cricket source said. “We are trying to decide where we need him most, the U-19 or the Sri Lanka ‘A’. Both are crucial positions.”
Mahanama, who is a member of the TAC, is being looked at as a possible replacement to Mickey Arthur, who will end his two year term in December. Though Mahanama has few credentials in coaching, he is considered a good man-manager.
“We are looking at someone who can be like Ravi Shasthri, to play the role of a mentor,” sources explained.
In any case, Arthur is likely to take the team to the World Cup in October.
Arthur took over the coaching job with Sri Lanka cricket in December 2019 in a major revamp with Grant Flower (batting coach), David Saker (bowling coach) and Shane McDermott (fielding coach) joining as backroom staff. Saker stepped down in February this year for personal reasons.
The national team under Arthur has struggled across all formats and are placed at the bottom of the ICC rankings. Sri Lanka is currently 8th in Tests and 9th in ODI and T20 cricket.
Meanwhile, the Sunday Times learns that SLC is likely to part ways with batting coach Grant Flower following national team’s dreadful batting over the last several months.
His contribution has now been questioned after Sri Lanka put on a abysmal display with the bat during the last two series in Bangladesh and England.
His two-year term will end in December but the Board is keen to send him off immediately.
He is currently under medical watch after he tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, three days after team landed in the island from the tour of England.