In a major development, the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) has decided to recall national team head coach Chandika Hathurasingha after the conclusion of the ongoing ODI series against South Africa, Cricket Age reliably learns.
Currently Sri Lanka is involved in a five match ODI series against South Africa and have already lost the trophy after losing four matches in a trot.
Even though, Sri Lanka somehow managed to win the test series 2-0, on the back of individual miracle of Kusal Perera, in ODIs, the team is looking completely out of sorts.
After another ODI series defeat, the SLC has realized that it is the time to give Hathurusingha a break from his duties.
“Hathurusingha will return after the final ODI as the board has summoned him to give a brief on recently defeats and dressing room controversies” a top SLC Official told Cricket Age.
As world cup is just few match away, the current sorry status of the Sri Lanka team has given a big headache to SLC.
“It’s loud and clear that nothing good is happening under Hathurusingha at the moment. So best way is to give him a break from coaching the national side for a while” the top official added further.
In the absence of Hathurasingha, Sri Lanka’s fielding coach Steve Rixon will take over for the three T20Is series.
Hired SLC in December 2017, Hathurusingha has turned out a complete disaster for Sri Lanka cricket, when he had been expected to uplift the standard of the team. In his tenure, Sri Lanka has become a laughing stock in shorter format cricket and right now is placed well below Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Also, his behavior and arrogance with SLC officials, selection committee have irked everyone in Sri Lanka cricket.
More importantly, under his wings, the team is completely divided at least in four camps. Few weeks ago, allrounder Thisara Perera’s leaked letter to SLC CEO Ashley De Silva had proved that Hathurusingha has failed miserably to keep the unity amongst the players.
