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Hathurusingha's wings clipped: Won’t be involved in team selection

29 January 2019 08:52 am - 33     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Sri Lankan coach Chandika Hathurusingha will have no longer have a role in choosing the national cricket team, either at home or on tour.

A directive has been issued by the Sports Minister Harin Fernando to the selection committee, headed by Asantha De Mel, that the team for the matches will now be selected by the captain, manager and selectors and that the majority opinions of the new management (selectors, captain and team manager) will prevail.

A one-page letter, which was read to the reporter over the phone by a highly placed-source privy to this latest development, was signed by the Competent Authority, Chulananda Perera, and sent to the team management currently in Australia, and copied to the national selectors.

"This new arrangement has come with immediate effect and the copy of this letter is already sent to the team management in Australia. Therefore, the final XI for the 2nd Test match commencing in Canberra from February 1, will be selected by this newly formed management and the coach will to be involved in the process", a highly placed source said to this paper. 

Interestingly, the power of involving the coach on selection matters was given by the previous establishment. "There is no such provision in the SLC constitution," the source claimed.

Brendon Kuruppu, Hemantha Wickramaratne and Chaminda Mendis are also in the selection committee. It will be interesting to see whether the inputs would be sought from the coach as it is a practice with other national coaches and again it would not be a surprise if Hathurusingha tenders his resignation anytime soon. It is also learnt that those who in Australia for the two-test series, who are selected for the South Africa tour will travel straight without returning to the island, while any new additions will be accompanied by Kuruppu who will be the selector on tour. (Bipin Dani)


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  Comments - 33

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  • Mr Cricket Tuesday, 29 January 2019 09:16 AM

    Few questions Was there a problem coach being in selection panel. Coach being in the selection panel would give more clout to the coach which might be beneficial to get the best out at training. Why would Minister interfere in the middle of a tour ? Is it a wise thing to do! We all know that lesser the fingering by politicians better for the game. Let SLC , coach and the selection panel do their job !

    Dam Tuesday, 29 January 2019 12:42 PM

    Coach was never involved in selection but he gave his opinions as I understood

    BUSHEL Tuesday, 29 January 2019 01:10 PM

    Coach in selection no problem.But when u want to chase him that is how message is given.

    Winger Tuesday, 29 January 2019 08:05 PM

    Poor man, he cannot fly any longer!!!

    Mike Tuesday, 29 January 2019 09:20 AM

    He should be Kicked out ASAP ...……..Has not done anything to the Team and Performance....Demoralised Angelo and Angelo Performance talked, then Hathu did the 180 turn like all .Let things happen for the good of Cricket - Now hardly watch matches it is a waste of time .Change in Captaincy is also answer, Mike Brealey type.

    Migrant Tuesday, 29 January 2019 02:02 PM

    After Chandika 'demoralised' Matthews, he actually did better. This shows that what Hathrusinghe did was motivate him more. If you don't watch matches these days, don't comment about cricket

    srilankan Tuesday, 29 January 2019 09:27 AM

    we appoint a clown and then make him naked!!!! if you have excess cash please give it to some poor schools in the rural areas to develop their sporting facilities. rather giving for such jokers

    Coconut Republic Tuesday, 29 January 2019 12:14 PM

    We don't need the presence of Asantha too

    bindu Tuesday, 29 January 2019 12:32 PM

    Our bowling is weak and our batting is weak. If we can improve on those we can win.We have good players who are very promising.

    Coconut Republic Tuesday, 29 January 2019 03:12 PM

    Our physical fitness is more weaker

    Sam Tuesday, 29 January 2019 07:29 PM

    If our bowling and batting are weak, then what does the "good players" do? pick the balls from outside the boundary?

    Cowdrey Tuesday, 29 January 2019 12:36 PM

    The current coach with due respect Has to go and OS coach appointed. all sweetheart deals terminated and a proper transparenent recruitment process undertaken To fill the required positions.It’s sad to see SLC in this predicament Luckily we have the perfect sports minister To kick off the process. Cmn HF kick some butt.

    wicky Tuesday, 29 January 2019 12:36 PM

    Question is, is this the right time to do this? We are just few weeks away from the WC and are yet to settle to a final team combination..and then this?

    deshan.048518 Tuesday, 29 January 2019 01:32 PM

    Du you want a combination with bunch of loosers?

    Mark Tuesday, 29 January 2019 01:26 PM

    We do see How well the A" team is performing under Avishka -

    Sampath Tuesday, 29 January 2019 02:08 PM

    What goes around comes around..

    Sammy Tuesday, 29 January 2019 02:13 PM

    New Zealand, Australia

    Amanda.Peter Tuesday, 29 January 2019 02:21 PM

    Appoint Dickwella as the Captian.

    Ram Tuesday, 29 January 2019 03:25 PM

    Angelo was sacked from captaincy when a tour was lost. Hathu was behind it and Angelo resigned. What is the plight of Chandimal? is he going to continue as captain. SL cricket is like a pickle / Achcharu

    Akila Tuesday, 29 January 2019 06:48 PM

    Anjelo is probably the worse captain we ever had , had he stayed as the caption then we would lose to the teams like Nepal and UAE

    Prabha Tuesday, 29 January 2019 03:27 PM

    Has he justified the 7.5Million and other associated perks paid monthly to remain as a coach? He humiliated and downgraded Angelo and apportioned all runouts on him.

    Sam Tuesday, 29 January 2019 07:31 PM

    Of course, Angelo was responsible for lot of run outs.

    Rohan Tuesday, 29 January 2019 05:10 PM

    How unprofessional and stupid this decision in the middle of a tour. if Anything Cricket board should try to encourage players the couch, manager and the selectors at this time.

    REEZ Tuesday, 29 January 2019 05:47 PM

    He lost his credit by throwing away a contract in the middle. He should have honoured his contract until World cup 2019 and join Sri Lanka.

    Cricket enthusiast Tuesday, 29 January 2019 07:14 PM

    The A team is doing very well and they have shown it in all 5 matches against Ireland. Better send this young team and bud them young and we will have a team to beat in a couple of years. we should get a professional coach too.

    Chandana Tuesday, 29 January 2019 08:30 PM

    Accept the truth. No Sri Lankan should be appointed as coach or any other top position of cricket and that would avoid getting dirty SL politics getting in.

    Aquarius Tuesday, 29 January 2019 09:25 PM

    Coaches salaries should be performance based or he will be laughing his way to the bank with nothing to worry about, whether the team loses or not. That amount of money could have produced some exceptional talent if invested in some development program.

    charles Wednesday, 30 January 2019 01:51 AM

    If the players are not good enough, it does not who select the team. Sports minister should not interfere middle of the tour.. As long as politics is around , our cricket never going to be the same.

    Maru kola Wednesday, 30 January 2019 01:53 AM

    I hope the selectors look to the performance of the current A team! Pick a few players from there. And how can Chandimal be on the selection pannel when he him self does not perform over and over again? He needs to be dropped. Probably bring back Tharanga to captain the test side along with some fresh blood. Stop looking to our local coaches and hire a good foreign bowling coach and head I would say.

    lasantha fernando Wednesday, 30 January 2019 02:36 AM

    Please replace the coach. Current coach has taken SL team on a down hill road. Honestly believe he's not capable of coaching a team like SL or any professional team.

    Kangaroo Wednesday, 30 January 2019 05:06 AM

    Have an Aussie as a coach. They have the best cricketing knowledge. We need that culture in our team .

    deshan.048518 Wednesday, 30 January 2019 08:34 AM

    Currently best cricketing knowledge is with Indians

    cheers Wednesday, 30 January 2019 11:58 AM

    I am with the minister on this though I am not a fan of UNP at all. Decisions got to be made and hope we expose Sadeera, Kasun for the 2nd test replacing few seniors who has done nothing.


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