Ramprakash as Sri Lanka cricket coach?

Even though Sri Lanka Cricket ( SLC) is yet to officially part ways with Chandika Hathurusingha-- the suspended Head Coach of the National Men’s team months before his contract expires in December next year, they are in the process of signing former English cricketer Mark Ramprakash as Head Coach.

The ex- Middlesex and Surrey cricketer, who played 52 Tests between 1991 and 2002, was part of England’s coaching set up until June this year and was shortlisted to take over the position of batting coach with the Indian team.

“We have already sent the letter of intent. We were satisfied with the presentation he made to us this week on Skype. If all goes well, he will take over the team from early December,” SLC sources confirmed.

If Ramprakash takes over, his first assignment would be to take the national Test side to Pakistan-Sri Lanka’s first Test tour since the deadly terrorist attack on Sri Lanka team bus enroute to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore in 2009.

His appointment will end months- long search for Hathurusingha’s successor, whose services will be terminated soon following a not- so- impressive stint at the helm.

Hathurusingha remains suspended since August as talks of ending the contract on mutual concent fails to materialize. Hathurusingha wanted SLC to honour the contractual obligations.

Sacking him would likely to cost Sri Lanka Cricket a hefty sum.

The contract allows him to pocket one- year’s pay in the event of SLC terminating the contract pre- maturely which the board has desperately attempted to avoid through dialogue. But Hathurusingha remains adamant, maintaining the decision to sack him is politically motivated.

“Hopefully we will end this impasse within the next two weeks,” said SLC CEO Ashley de Silva when asked about the status of Hathurusingha’s contract. “We are waiting for legal opinions and once that is received, we will reach a decision”.

Since Hathurusingha’s suspension, the national team was put under Rumesh Ratnayake and Jerome Jayaratne-- the interim head coach and consultant coach.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka Cricket has finalised their Test tour to Pakistan with the first match scheduled for December 11- 15 in Rawalpindi and the second Test in Karachi from December 19 - 23.