Sports
Dhammika Ratnaweera
Avishka Gunawardena (Head coach Sri Lanka A)-Jehan Mubarak (Head coach Sri Lanka under 19)-Ruwan Kalpage (Head coach Emerging team)
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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) as part of the restructuring programme of the High Performance Centre has made new appointments to the Coaching Unit. The changes are aimed at further enhancing the focus on the National Team, ‘A,’ Emerging and also the Under 19 Team. All new coaching appointments were approved by the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket.
Anton Roux, former head coach of the Netherlands Men’s team was appointed as the National Fielding Coach, effective from 7th March 2022. Roux, who played 1st Class Cricket in South Africa, will be in charge of fielding across all national teams and the High Performance Centre.
Before joining Sri Lanka Cricket, Roux was working as the Assistant (fielding) Coach of the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club, UK.
Meanwhile, Avishka Gunawardena the former under 19 head coach has been upgraded to Sri Lanka ‘A’ coach while former National all-rounder Ruwan Kalpage and former National top order batter Jehan Mubarak have been appointed as the head coach of the Emerging team and Sri Lanka under 19 team respectively. Thilina Kandamby (Sri Lanka ‘A’), Ruwin Pieris (Emerging team ) and Sampath Perera (Sri Lanka under 19) are new Assistant coaches. Sampath Perera a product of D.S Senanayake College later did a coaching role at SSC, Trinity, and Malaysia Cricket Board.
Sampath Perera also gets a new appointment to do the dual role of Assistant coach and batting coach for the Sri Lanka under 19 team. Ruwin Pieris the former Piliyandala Central player later played for NCC, Tamil Union also did a coaching role at NCC and later joined SLC. He was the batting coach of National team during the last India and Australia tours.
The former Under 19 fielding coach Upul Chandana is getting a new role to be appointed the fielding coach for Sri Lanka ‘A’ team while Gayan Wijekoon is appointed as the Under 19 fielding coach. The 45-year-old Wijekoon who played for two Test matches and three T-20’s for Sri Lanka team is attached to Sri Lanka coaching High Performance Centre.
The former Gurukula MV Kelaniya left hander and left arm medium paceman Wijekoon did a superb job earlier as head coach of Moors SC to clinch Premier T-20 championship and he also gave his services to several clubs during the Premier League tournaments.
Jehan Mubarak the 41-year-old right hand batter and off spinner who played 13 Test matches, 40 ODI’s and 16 T-20’s did a good role as a head coach of Royal College and he was the head coach of the Galle team at the recently concluded National Super League Cricket Tournament.
Former leg spinner Sajeewa Weerakoon who played two ODIs is getting a new appointment as Sri Lanka ‘A’ team bowling coach while former Sri Lankan opener Malinda Warnapura is appointed for Sri Lanka ‘A’ as the new batting coach. He played 14 Test matches and three ODI’S later joined as head coach of Colts CC and his school St. Peter’s.
He was the champion Kandy team head coach at the recently concluded National Super League 4-day cricket tournament. In addition, he is presently working as batting coach of the Emerging team for the forthcoming England tour.
Dharshana Gamage, the former National paceman who played for 3 ODI’s for the National team is named for Sri Lanka ‘A’ bowling coach while Dhammika Sudharshana the former Richmond coach is getting the new role of batting coach for the Emerging team.
Chamila Gamage the former National paceman who created a new record by taking the first ball wicket in Test cricket was named as bowling coach of the National under 19 team. The 42-year-old right arm medium paceman Chamila Gamage played two Test matches and 7 ODIS later did a superb job at the SLC coaching Education Department and joined as the Under 19 fast bowling coach.
In addition, Hashan Tillakaratne the Sri Lanka women’s cricket head coach, and bowling coach Diniuk Hettiarachchi, and fielding coach Lanka de Silva work in the same positions for the Women’s team.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ Team
* Avishka Gunawardene– Head Coach
* Thilina Kandamby – Assistant Coach
* Malinda Warnapura – Batting Coach
* SajeewaWeerakoon – Bowling Coach
* Upul Chandana – Fielding Coach
Emerging Team
* Ruwan Kalpage – Head Coach
* Ruvin Peiris – Assistant Coach
* Dharshana Gamage – Bowling Coach
* Dhammika Sudarshana – Batting Coach
Sri Lanka Under 19
* Jehan Mubarak – Head Coach
* Sampath Perera – Assistant / Batting Coach
* Chamila Gamage – Bowling Coach
* Gayan Wijekoon – Fielding Coach
