Rumesh Ratnayake turns down Assistant Coach post

Sri Lanka Cricket is extremely appointment at the withdrawal of Rumesh Ratnayake as assistant coach of the Sri Lankan team. Ratnayake, the former Sri Lankan fast bowler, had signed a four-year contract with Sri Lanka Cricket nearly a month ago to become assistant coach, replacing the outgoing coach Trevor Penney. But in a sudden turn around, Ratnayake has sent a letter saying that he is unable to accept the position due to family commitments.

Ratnayake, who is currently a Development Officer of the Asian Cricket Council, was preferred to be replaced as Assistant Coach two years ago, but Sri Lanka Cricket instead decided to pursue with Moody’s nominee, current stand-in coach Trevor Penny.

Since he had signed a contract with SL Cricket, he was expected to take over beginning August.

But, now that he has withdrawed from this post, it is highly unlikely there will local assistant. Newly appointed Head Coach, Australian Trevor Bayliss, who will begin his two-year stint in August, will most probably be given the opportunity to find a suitable assistant.

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Rumesh Ratnayake to take over as Assistant Coach

Former Sri Lanka fast bowler, Rumesh Ratnayake has agreed to become the new assistant coach of the Sri Lanka team succeeding Trevor Penney who is due to leave Sri Lanka Cricket when his contract expires at the end of August.

Sri Lanka Cricket was planning to get Ratnayake roped in for next month’s home series against Bangladesh, but his commitments with the Asian Cricket Council as a development officer won’t see him relieved off his duties until August end.
As a result Penney will take over as coach of the national team for the Bangladesh series from Tom Moody who finishes his contract with Sri Lanka Cricket at the end of May.
Following talks Ratnayake had with the Sri Lanka Cricket hierarchy he is due to sign a four-year contract from September 1, 2007 which will take him upto August 31, 2011. This is the first time any coach assigned to the national team is going to be signed on for such a long period of time. The maximum has been for a period of three years.
“I am in the middle of a strategic development planning program which will go on for another three months. I won’t be free till then. By the end of August I will be completing six years as a development officer,” Ratnayake told The Nation.
“Tom has set such high standards that I am delighted to accept the challenge of assisting the national team,” he said.
Prior to working with the ACC, Ratnayake successfully headed Sri Lanka Cricket’s fast bowling academy. He is a qualified Level 4 (English) and Level 2 (Australian) coach.

Ratnayake, 43, spearheaded the Sri Lanka fast bowling attack of the eighties forming a formidable combination with Ashantha de Mel, Vinothen John and Ravi Ratnayeke. In 23 Tests he took 73 wickets at 35.10 apiece and was a more than useful tail ender crossing the fifty-mark twice in Tests. His most memorable performance was bowling Sri Lanka to their maiden Test victory at the Saravanamuttu Stadium in 1985 by capturing nine Indian wickets for 125 runs. He also took 76 wickets from 70 ODIs and figured in two World Cup tournaments in 1983 and 1987.

Courtesy : The Nation

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