After World Cup Failure, Sports Minister Orders Removal of Coach

After the World Cup failure, Sri Lanka's sports minister Harin Fernando on Friday has ordered the removal of the national cricket coach.

As per Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officials, Chandika Hathurusingha and his assistants would soon be fired after team's upcoming one-day series against Bangladesh. The contracts of fielding coach Steve Rixon, batting coach Jon Lewis and fast bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake will also not be renewed when they end.

Meanwhile, according to Hindustan Times report, Sports minister has ordered the coaches “to go after the Bangladesh tournament." He also wanted to make the changes before the World Cup. But being under pressure, Hathurusingha had insisted that he would stay to see out his contract.

"I have another 16 months. I hope to remain until my contract runs out,” Hathurusingha told reporters after returning from the World Cup tournament. He also admitted that team management had to “accept responsibility for what happened.”

The upcoming one-day series against Bangladesh is all set to begin on July 26 and ends on August 1 at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.