Interim coach Jayasuriya disciplines Sri Lankan cricketers ahead of T2OI series against India
COLOMBO: Ahead of the white-ball home series against India, newly appointed interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya calls for discipline within the Sri Lankan team, including enforcing proper haircuts and the removal of piercings.
Addressing the media, former skipper Jayasuirya admited instilling discipline in current players is important, specially to maintain cricket as “the gentlemen’s game”.
“We did basic disciplining. We are expecting discipline in general, and I am only an interim coach during my tenure. I want that discipline,” said Jayasuriya, who has been appointed as a temporary coach for the series against India and Sri Lanka’s tour of England in September.
“Our cricket-loving public love these cricketers, and they are watching them and there are young cricketers who are looking up to senior cricketers. They like to learn from them. If they do well it would help the younger generation of cricketers as well. It was on this backdrop we introduced these changes. We want to maintain cricket as the gentlemen’s game,” he added.
Backing Jayasuriya’s atempt to discipline the young cricketers, country’s Sports Minister Harin Fernando, earlier stressed the need for modesty and discipline among cricketers representing the country and argued that humble behaviour could mitigate most of the criticism cricketers face ater match losses.
“If the team had been more humble and their atitudes had shited, the people of Sri Lanka would not have been so critical of match losses. People have a deep love for cricket” the Sports Minister had said.
Jayasuriya also stressed that Sri Lanka should get the best advantage from the absence of three experienced players; Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, who have announced their retirement from the shorter format ater T20 World Cup last month.
“They are not in the team, which is a loss to the Indian team, and we should take maximum advantage of it ,’’ he said. “Rohit, Virat and Jadeja are the best players in the world. With their talent, the cricket they played, we all know where they stand,” Jayasuirya said.
The three T20IS will be played on July 27, 28 and 30 at Pallekele International Stadium followed by three ODIS, starting from August 2 in Colombo.
--IANS susitha/bc (358 Words) 20240724150325 NNNN Asitha Fernando likely to replace injured Dushmantha Chameera for white-ball series vs India Colombo, July 24 (IANS) Ahead of the T20I and ODI series against India, Sri Lanka pacer Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out from the white-ball series due to injury.
As per multiple Sri Lanka media reports, Chammera has been ruled out and Sri Lanka Cricket will soon announce the replacement.
“Dushmantha Chameera ruled out of India series with injury. Replacement to be named shortly,” wrote Rex Clementine, a prominent Sri Lankan journalist on ‘X.’ However, it is expected that Asitha Fernando might replace the injured Chameera for the series against India. Asitha was the pick of the bowlers in the Lanka Premier League final. He picked up three wickets as the Jaffna Kings beat Galle Marvels.
The three T20IS will be played on July 27, July 28 and July 30 at Pallekele International Stadium followed by 3 ODIS from August 2 onwards in Colombo.
Head coach Gambhir takes charge as Indian players hit the ground in Pallekele New Delhi, July 23 (IANS) Newly-appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir has taken official charge of the Indian team as the players assembled in Pallekele on Tuesday for the first training session in Sri Lanka ahead of the limited-overs series. Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team reached Pallekele on Monday for the upcoming three-match T20I series, followed by three ODIS. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared a video of India’s first practice session in Pallekele on their official X account.
“Head Coach Gautam Gambhir Takes Charge!” BCCI captioned the post.