The Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) is mulling over demoting discarded national team coach Chandika Hathurasingha as A team or U19 coach, Cricket Age exclusively learns.
Following Sri Lanka’s disappointing World Cup, where they finished in sixth place with only 3 wins in 9 games, the SLC had decided to remove support staff, including head coach Chandika Hathurasingha from the national team setup.
Accordingly, following a special directive from Sports Ministry, Hathurusingha is currently facing a suspension while fast bowling coach Romesh Rathnayake shouldered responsibility as interim coach during recently concluded New Zealand Series.
“The Management Committee is on the opinion to having him as A Team coach. Accordingly, CEO Mr. Ashley De Silva is consulting with board legal advisor” a senior SLC administrator told Cricket Age.
Initially, SLC was adamant to remove Hathurusingha altogether, however, his watertight contract has prevented board to administrators to take extreme step. However, as both Sports Minister Harin Fernando as well as SLC President Shammi Silva have made it loud and clear that Hathurusingha wouldn’t be associated with national team anymore, demoting him to junior level seems most logical option.
“As per his contract, the board has the authority to put him with any national side, being it A team, U19 or even U15. Mr. Hathurusingha has to accept it, as it’s within the ambit of the contract” the senior administrator added further.
The final decision on this will be taken during SLC Executive Committee (ExCo) meeting on September 16.
Hathurusingha, arrived as a messiah in December 2017, failed miserably in his task to bring Sri Lanka Cricket back on track, with his tenure so far has been marred with on field, dressing room controversies and poor results in all three formats. However, as Hathurasingha’s only interest is to keep drawing his 40,000 USD salary per month, he shamelessly refused to take responsibility for Sri Lanka’s lacklustre performance in the World Cup.
