SLC ex-co members question Atapattu appointment

Several Executive Committee members of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had expressed their displeasure at yesterday’s SLC ex-co meeting about appointing Marvan Atapattu as national team coach without informing them, an ex-co member told “Daily Mirror”.

“We got to know of the appointment only through news alerts from media outlets. So, it is quite an embarrassing position for an ex-co member to be in when some outsiders asks us about it and we have to say don’t know about it,” said the ex-co member.

He said some members raised a question about this situation and protested over the manner things took place but were in agreement over the decision itself.He said SLC Secretary Nishantha Ranatunga explained to the ex-co members that they had to take the decision fast as the national players were already in training while Vice President Mohan de Silva offered an apology to the members who were concerned about the issue.

However, later all ex-co members had agreed that it was the best decision under circumstances while asking for ex-co approval for such decisions in future.Ranatunga had also cleared a misunderstanding about informing ex-co members submitting copies of email sent to all ex-co members as proof that SLC had communicated the decision to members nearly an hour prior to issuing a media release. He had said ex-co members were informed in order to get their feedback and they had been willing to accept any objections if there were any.The ex-co members had then decided to advertise the position after the tour of England in order to pick a long-term full-time coach.