SRI LANKA COACH GRAHAM FORD STEPS DOWN

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford has stepped down after 15 months in his second stint with the team, the cricket board announced on Saturday. South African Ford, who first coached Sri Lanka between 2012 and 2014, rejoined the team in February last year, signing a contract until the 2019 World Cup. The 56-year-old led the team to memorable Test and twenty20 series wins over Australia but Sri Lanka’s performance this year has been inconsistent with the team suffering their first ever test loss to Bangladesh and a whitewash in South Africa. They could not make the semifinals of this month’s Champions Trophy either. “We have to thank Fordy for his invaluable contribution to Sri Lanka Cricket,” board president Thilanga Sumathipala said in a statement.