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Last Updated : 2024-04-24 06:20:00
27 February 2016 07:41 pm - 14 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Terming Sri Lanka Cricket President Thilanga Sumathipala’s suggestive remarks 'laughable', former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardane stated his work with the England centered around player development and not sharing tactical information.
“England didn't hire me to give information on the Sri Lankan team. They have analysts and coaches to do that,” Jayawardene was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo on Saturday (27). "The pools hadn't been decided when I agreed to do it. My role with England is to help develop their cricketers, and to help with how they should approach different challenges - like playing spin,” he said.
“There are also a lot of new players in this Sri Lanka team that I haven't played with. But even for the guys like Angelo Mathews, or Lasith Malinga, or Dinesh Chandimal, isn't the challenge to keep evolving? Graham Ford (Sri Lanka's head coach) has worked at Surrey with Jason Roy - the England opener - for the last three years. I guess that would be unethical as well. In my heart I've had Sri Lankan cricket right at the top, but I'm also a professional,” Jayawardene said.
The former Sri Lankan captain had worked in close association with the SLC for nearly a year on the revamp of Sri Lanka's domestic cricket before it was scrapped by the new administration. Subsequently, he took up a consultant's role with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) ahead of the Three Lions' tour of the UAE in September 2015, with a key focus on improving England's play in the spin conducive surfaces of the sub continent.
This position was extended to include 10 more days of batting consultancy during the World T20, where spin is once again expected to play a significant role. This assignment with a 'rival team' drew the ire of SLC's chief, who believes Jayawardene should not have been allowed to take up such a position within two years of his international retirement, considering England will face holders Sri Lanka in the group stages of the tournament.
"I'm very disappointed that a national captain, within a few months of retirement, has been retained by another team at a World Cup," Sumathipala had said on Friday. "You could go to a club, a province, an IPL kind of team, or a county. But this is a World Cup. You can't have a player who has just left your country's team joining a competitive nation.
"All the contracted players who are playing, once they retire from the game, should have at least 24 months before joining another team for giving advice or coaching."
The Jayawardene-coached England side will take on Sri Lanka in a Group 1 World T20 encounter at the Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi on March 26.
hb Sunday, 28 February 2016 09:21 AM
people who have never played a straight bat in their business dealings and in life in general, think that rest of the persons are also like themselves.
Nihal amarasekera Sunday, 28 February 2016 12:28 PM
Earning at any cost (profit) is professionalism, is it?
aja Sunday, 28 February 2016 03:58 PM
Very good reply . Money talks for MJ
Bingo Monday, 29 February 2016 09:34 AM
I wonder who are these people commenting here. Really uncivilized and lives in stone age.
Mark Anandappa Monday, 29 February 2016 10:17 AM
How did Srilanka play so unprofessionally against BD in Asia Cup , there is no need to provide inside information to any opposing team on Sri lanka team when one sees the performance of the current team.
onlooker Monday, 29 February 2016 10:19 AM
Prejudiced uneducated jokers.
eddy Monday, 29 February 2016 10:58 AM
Lets face the facts. A bookie runs the cricket outfit. What do you expect.
Raj Monday, 29 February 2016 11:07 AM
Jealousy has no boundaries? Then again Sri Lankans are excellent in that.
Manasique Monday, 29 February 2016 11:19 AM
We got to reluctantly agree with Thilanaga (whatever he may be) he got a point there!
Thomas Ranger Monday, 29 February 2016 11:48 AM
Very good. Sock it to them where it hurts.
pradeep Monday, 29 February 2016 11:50 AM
No inside information required to beat present Sri Lankan team. They are nowhere at the moment. Everybody should focus on how to improve the cricket standard rather than make laugh people around the world.
M.Jiffry Monday, 29 February 2016 02:33 PM
Agree with SLC President. Mahela is planning to develop England cricketers to play spin. Yes MJ you can tell them how to play Herath and our other spinners.
Jeeshan Monday, 29 February 2016 04:57 PM
As a Bangladeshi, i would grab Mahela at all costs to help our batsmen develop the T20 side of the game. England saw the opportunity and approached him. If Sri Lanka wanted him, i am sure he would have put the need of country before England. Its a terrific opportunity for a Sri Lankan to work a foreign team which usually works with the best coaches. If SLC really think England would hire Mahela for inside secrets, they are really flattering themselves. At this point England can step into the pitch blindly and crush Sri Lanka. SLC lost Hathurusingha, Kalpage, Mario Villayavaran this way. See how well Bangladesh is progressing under their helm. Bangladesh almost snatched Piyal Wijetunge, and Chaminda Vaas as well. Its all about showing appreciation and value. Money will always be a factor. But if you value your staff, sometimes they might show a bit less preference to the dollar.
Maru sira Sunday, 20 March 2016 05:13 PM
what a joke, Mr Sumathipala, Mahela is not your type, he is a gentleman.
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