While Sri Lanka cricket is on ventilator, some of tiny Island’s legendary former cricketers are coaching and consulting all around the globe. However, as soon as they lands at Katunayake International Airport, they turns advisors! However, as there is no light at the end of the tunnel for Sri Lanka cricket, more than Kumar Sangakkara’s knighthood, his batting expertise will benefit country’s most cherished Sport. More than Mahela Jayawardene’s Mumbai Indians IPL trophies, his shrewd cricketing brain will help his motherland in overcoming the slump. More than Muttiah Muralitharan’s entrepreneur image over, his spin bowling tips will keep alive Sri Lanka’s hope on rank turners. In all, this is the time for Murali, Sanga and Mahela to prove their worth for Sri Lanka Cricket Once Again! Right now, Sri Lanka Cricket doesn’t need long term unpractical proposals, big talking. Right now, Sri Lanka Cricket need immediate action at ground level.
Mahela Jayawardene has strategically established himself as one of the most sought after coach in world cricket, post his retirement. As a player, he was an elegant batsman but not an impact player. As a coach, he associated with Mumbai Indians, filled with some of the biggest Indian and overseas cricketers, and won trophies. Riding on IPL success, now he coaches many leagues all around the world.
For Sri Lanka cricket, he is an advisor! Till 6th August 2020, he was on the firm opinion that Sri Lanka is not professional enough for him to be associated at any level. But, as soon as Namal Rajapaksa arrived as country’s Sports Minister, his opinion changed overnight. Now, he sits in the right side of Namal (Sangakkara sits in the left, but rarely) and makes strategies.
But, when it comes to guiding the struggling national team, he still goes missing, even after being the biggest decision maker of the Sport in the country. Even after being one of the most successful franchise cricket coach, he still doesn’t want to take same assignment for his motherland!
Sangakkara, with his English assent, has turned multitasking! He mentors Rajasthan Royals in IPL, in T10 leagues and is trying to establish himself as a commentator also!
For Sri Lanka cricket, he is not even getting involved like his friend turn business partner Mahela. He sits in the left of the Namal, because it was mandatory. By heart, till few months ago, he was little aware of Sri Lanka’s brightest young batting prodigy Pathum Nisshanka batting style even! It’s visible that he wants to get involved in cricket everywhere (T20, T10 and even T5 if ICC launches this version in future). For Sri Lanka, his motherland, he still prefers to sit in the left of the Sports Minister, once in a moon!
About Murali’s cricketing career, we won’t talk! As a coach, he has long been associated with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Obviously, just like Mahela and Sanga, he also dreams of being a successful coach around the world. For his motherland, he prefers to maintain a safe distance though. Whether it’s true or not, but over the years, the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has claimed again and again that whenever they approached Murali for even consultancy role, he remained unavailable!
So, Sri Lanka cricket has three of its legendary former cricketers, who dreams of being successful International coaches. Irony, though, is that no one wants to coach Sri Lanka cricket, which is on ventilator!
