Samaraweera joins NZ coaching staff for tours to BD, Pakistan

Wednesday, 11 August 2021 00:23 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Thilan Samaraweera (left) speaks to Kusal Mendis during his stint as Sri Lanka batting coach

Former Sri Lanka cricketer Thilan Samaraweera has joined the New Zealand cricket team coaching staff for their tours to Bangladesh and Pakistan.

New Zealand Cricket, in naming the squads for the incorporating tours to Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, as well as the ICC T20 World Cup in the UAE over a four-month-long period, have included Samaraweera in their coaching staff for the five T20 Internationals against Bangladesh and three ODIs and five T20 Internationals against Pakistan.

Samaraweera had earlier worked with the New Zealand Test side support staff when they began their World Test Championship campaign against Sri Lanka in 2019. New Zealand later went onto become the first holders of the inaugural World Test Championships, defeating India in the final at Southampton.

The 44-year-old Samaraweera who appeared in 81 Tests and 53 ODIs for his country was also a one-time batting consultant of Bangladesh and the batting coach of Sri Lanka. (ST)