Barely a week before team’s departure for the West Indies tour, Sri Lanka bowling coach David Saker has resigned citing personal reasons. Legendary Chaminda Vaas is likely to be named his replacement for the tour.
Sri Lanka are scheduled to depart for West Indies on February 23. The tour, which included two Tests, three ODIs and three Twenty20 Internationals, was earlier thrown into jeopardy after Sri Lanka head coach Mickey Arthur and player Lahiru Thirimanne tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this month. But following the negative results returned on the rest of the training squad, West Indies tour is once again back on track.
“Meanwhile, Vaas has joined probable squad yesterday during practice session” an team management insider told Cricket Age.
Saker was appointed Sri Lanka bowling coach in December 2019. Earlier, he had served as England’s bowling coach from 2010 to 2015. During his tenure Saker had played a key role in England’s 2010-11 and 2013 Ashes triumphs. Then, after coaching Victoria to the Sheffield Shield title in 2015-16, the former first-class cricketer served as Australia’s bowling coach from 2016 to 2019, a period during which the Cape Town ball-tampering episode took place.
Chaminda Vaas, Sri Lanka’s greatest fast bowler, has been a permanent fixture in coaching setup, having served as fast bowling coach of the national team in past as well.
