Sri Lanka Head Coach Chandika Hathurusingha Bans Music In Training

Newly-appointed Sri Lanka head coach Chandika Hathurusingha has made it clear he means business as he gave a precursor of the things that the players can expect under him. Showing his hard taskmaster face, Hathurusingha has banned music in training and has also demanded “full control” over the selection.

With the current year nothing short of a nightmare for the Islanders, Hathurusingha has said he would impose strict discipline in the dressing room to bring the team on track and make sure they are ready for the 2019 World Cup. In fact, the coach is so hell-bent to impose that he is not even bothered about the players’ reservations over the music being banned in practice.

“If they are interested in music, they will have to go home,” he said after his first training session with the team on Thursday (December 28).

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The Islanders have struggled this year across formats. In the first two months of the year, they were whitewashed in Tests and ODIs by South Africa. The T20I series win in South Africa and Australia gave some respite, but it was soon followed by some disastrous results.

Sri Lanka failed to win the home series against Bangladesh and exited the Champions Trophy at the group stage. It was followed by a shocking ODI series loss against Zimbabwe at home before they lost all the nine games (three Tests, five ODIs and one T20I against India.

A Test series win against Pakistan once again gave them a much-needed respite but their disastrous year hit a new low when they lost all the five ODIs and three T20Is against Pakistan.  Recently they ended the full-fledged series against India with just one win in ODIs, losing the Test series 1-0, ODIs, 2-1 and T20Is 3-0.

Meanwhile, Hathurusingha wants to have a big say in the team’s selection policy. Recently, sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera had stopped the Sri Lankan T20 team from going to India because he did not agree with the selection.

“I need full control and responsibility to pick the playing eleven,” Hathurusingha said.

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“According to the sports law, the coach can`t get involved in selections. They are considering my request to be a selector while being the coach,” he added.

The 49-year-old’s first assignment will be the tour of Bangladesh, starting next month.

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