Gurusinha to play dual role
The appointment of former Sri Lanka World Cup winning cricketer Asanka Gurusinha as Cricket Manager of the National Team has created quite a buzz in the local cricket fraternity. This isn’t without a reason.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) replaced Charith Senanayake with Ranjith Fernando as Manager of the National Team in mid December citing a ‘new rotation policy’ and just after two tours - in South Africa and Australia the cash-strapped Cricket Body has hired the third for a newly created role as Cricket Manager, leaving many wondered what SLC’S thinking behind the move. When Daily Mirror contacted a top SLC administrator he said that Gurusinha will handle matters relating to cricket within the National Team while Fernando will be in-charge of logistics and other related matters within the National Team.
“He is a respected cricketer who can command respect and we need someone like him to work with the team as we are in a rebuilding process. So, I am sure his experience as a cricketer will certainly help us achieve our goals,” the sources said on the condition of anonymity.
Gurusinha who will be returning to Sri Lanka after being in exile for 20-years will take up the position in time for the First Test against Bangladesh starting on March 7.
He is expected to play the dual role of Cricket Manager and the Selector on Tour, substantially reducing the presence of cricket selectors on tour.
“This is our long term plan for him. We will eventually appoint him as a selector so that he can play the dual role,” sources added. According to sources he has been contracted until the 2019 Cricket World Cup in England.
Gurusinha who hit a matchwinning half century in the 1996 World Cup final as Sri Lanka snatched its first global silverwear beating Australia in the final, migrated to Australia at the age of 30 and since then has lived in exile Down Under.