Ford in flux?

By Madushka Balasuriya

Amidst reports last evening of a breakdown in relations between the and Sri Lanka Cricket Board and national team Head Coach Graham Ford, Sri Lanka Cricket sought to refute any notion that the South African had resigned from his post. 

Speaking to the Daily FT, SLC confirmed that Ford had left to South Africa for a “small break” but was expected back in the country by Sunday, and that no resignation letter had been handed in.

“We are waiting for his reply [as to the reports], but he should come back on the weekend. We are expecting him back by Sunday,” said an SLC spokesperson.

When queried as to whether there had been a falling out between Ford and Team Manager Asanka Gurusinha, SLC maintained that the two had a good working relationship.

“No, no there’s nothing like that [as far as a disagreement between Gurusinha and Ford].”

Ford is just 17 months into a four year contract with Sri Lanka Cricket leading up to the 2019 World Cup, and has spoken fondly of his young team and its potential. However, reports emerged online last evening that Ford had quit his post and left for his home country after a string of disagreements with Team Manager Asanka Gurusinha. Nic Pothas was tipped to take over as interim coach, however SLC denied that was the case.

Efforts by Daily FT to get further comment from SLC President Thilanga Sumathipala or CEO Ashley De Silva proved futile as both are overseas on official business.

Mahela questions Dayasiri’s tact

Mahela Jayawardene looks to have taken umbrage with comments made by Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera regarding the fitness levels of the Sri Lanka National cricket team.

Taking to Twitter, the former Sri Lankan Captain agreed on the need for the Sri Lankan cricketers to improve their collective levels of fitness but questioned Jayasekera’s use of public fora in discussing the matter.

“Agreed on fitnnes [sic] and all should be at a good level. Discuss things in closed doors. Playing to public galleries is politics,” tweeted Jayawardene.

Jayasekera had last week spoken out against the fitness levels of the current crop of national players, and brought up the same point again at the Cabinet media briefing on Wednesday going as far as to say that he will ensure that only players who are deemed fit enough will be selected for the national side going forward - regardless of form.

However, despite Jayasekera’s recent interest in the Sri Lankan cricketer’s fitness levels, SLC insiders had previously spoken of the marked improvement in the players’ fitness and overall work ethic. In fact, over the past year improving the fitness levels of players in the national and development pools had been a key tenet of the coaching philosophies of both Coach Graham Ford and High Performance Manager Simon Willis, with Ford going as far to cite the team’s fielding as an asset ahead the team’s Champions Trophy campaign. And despite some glaring mistakes in the tournament, overall improvements in the field were clearly visible. (MB)