Hathurusingha to replace Graham Ford as Lankan head coach

Graham Ford’s untimely and bizarre exit as the head coach of Sri Lankan cricket team indeed raised a few eyebrows. Lankan cricket is currently in a transition period and they were looking for someone with tons of experience to lead them in these sensitive times. Hence, Graham Ford was offered him 45-month contract last year and he obliged to it.

15 months after consenting Sri Lankan Cricket’s (SLC) request, Ford quit his duties on 24 June, a week after their country’s disastrous performance in the recently concluded ICC Champions Trophy. Fielding coach Nic Pothas has taken over currently as the interim head coach and reports suggest that SLC is trying to rope in Chandika Hathurusingha, their former cricketer to take up the coveted job.

Hathurusingha is currently the head coach of Bangladesh’s national side and during his tenure, the Tigers have transcended from pushovers to a powerhouse in the ODI format. Bangladesh managed to reach the final of the Asia Cup in 2016 and they also surprised everyone by entering the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.

The coach has been able to take the Bangladesh team to an all together different level and their players currently are focused on winning more accolades and justifying their place in the elite level. But Hathurusingha is contracted to Bangladesh till the 2019 World Cup and their board might not consider searching for another person when things are going so well.

But officials in SLC think that he’s the right person to mentor their national side in these difficult times. Henceforth, they’ll go all out on the Bangladesh Cricket Board to get their countryman back. Hathurusingha too mentioned in an interview with ESPNCricinfo that he might consider coming back to Sri Lanka if the board shows any interest in recalling him.

“Its been a privilege working with the Lankan side”, says Graham Ford

A day after Graham Ford quit his job, SLC released a statement stating this decision was taken mutually by both the parties after careful consideration and deliberation.

“This was a decision arrived at mutually after careful consideration and deliberation and we are both confident of its propriety,” SLC President said in a statement. “He joined us at a time where we were quoted by the ICC as being on the ‘verge of suspension’ and at a time where things were volatile and uncertain, Ford had faith in us and has given us his fullest support,” he added.

“It’s been a privilege to work with these talented young men over the past 15 months. Their passion for the sport is inspiring, as is indeed this nation’s. Sri Lanka has grown on me, and although we’ve made the decision to part ways where coaching is concerned, she will always have a little piece of my heart,” said Graham Ford.

Though there’s no official confirmation as to why the South African has left, it is being reported in Sri Lanka’s local media that Ford has issues with team manager Asanka Gurusinha. During the Champions Trophy, Ford had written a letter to SLC regarding his altercations with the manager and before quitting, he had an open discussion with the Board before leaving the country.