Rumesh Ratnayake Appointed Interim Head Coach Of Sri Lanka For Australia Tour
Former Sri Lankan pace bowler Rumesh Ratnayake has been confirmed as the interim head coach of the Lankan team ahead of their five-match T20I tour of Australia starting next month.
He has already functioned in the same capacity when Zimbabwe toured Lanka for a 3-match ODI series which the hosts won 2-1. The veteran has played 23 Tests and 70 ODIs in a career that spanned 11 years and is currently serving as the bowling coach at the High-Performance Center.
“Rumesh Ratnayake was appointed as the interim coach of the National Team for the upcoming Tour of Australia. He was appointed by the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket in consultation with the Technical Advisory Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket,” read the statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday.
Mickey Arthur left the team in November 2021 and the board continues to find a suitable replacement. Ratnayake will continue to act as the stop-gap. He will not be traveling to Australia with the team after he tested positive.
“Ratnayake will not travel to Australia with the team but will join before the 1st T20I game, as he is currently in self-isolation having tested positive for COVID-19,” the statement further read.
The squad was announced for the series that begins on February 11. Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis return to the fold after their one-year suspension for breaking covid-19 protocols were lifted.
Sri Lanka squad for Australia tour:
Dasun Shanaka (capt), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando.
