Sri Lanka Cricket is considering Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas for spin and fast bowling coaching positions respectively, SLC chief executive Ajit Jayasekara said. Neither have undergone formal coaching training but are the nation’s highest wicket-takers in Tests and ODIs by a distance.
Jayasekara said SLC were not working to a concrete time frame on the potential appointments but discussions between the parties had been encouraging. Their prospective roles were yet to be clearly defined but Jayasekara said both men would likely work closely with the national team, though they might be asked to share their expertise beyond the national set-up.
“They are two of our best products, and have had huge success all over the world,” he said. “We are looking to tap that knowledge and make use of it for the betterment of cricket in Sri Lanka. The fact that they don’t have coaching qualifications isn’t a big issue when you consider how much they have to offer.”
Vaas was recently employed by the visiting New Zealand side in a temporary coaching role, and had positive feedback from both the players and coaching staff he worked with on the tour. New Zealand’s fast bowlers had a highly successful tour of Sri Lanka, especially notable for the quality of swing and seam movement they produced, which had been a hallmark of Vaas’ own bowling.
Vaas, who was playing county cricket as recently as July 2012, said he was enthusiastic about taking a coaching role in Sri Lanka. “I have finished my discussions with the board and they will come back to me with a decision,” he said.
Muralitharan is the most successful bowler in the history of the game, leading both the Test and ODI wicket-takers lists, with 800 and 534 scalps respectively. He continues to play in domestic Twenty20 leagues, having just wrapped up a season with the Melbourne Renegades in January.
If Murali and Vaas come on board with SLC, their appointments will be among a raft of changes around the national team within a few months. Their former teammate Sanath Jayasuriya was named chief selector of a new five-member panel on Monday, while Sri Lanka’s first Test captain Bandula Warnapura is also expected to become CEO of the board in April.
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