Decision to be taken next week on Marvan’s replacement: SLC

Marvan Atapattu has overseen a poor home season for Sri Lanka, in which they lost Test series to Pakistan and India – AFP

By Madushka Balasuriya

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will hold discussions next week on how to replace Marvan Atapattu, who resigned as Coach of the national team yesterday, officials told the Daily FT.

SLC CEO Ashley De Silva stated that while a decision would not be taken immediately, an official appointment would be announced before the two-Test series against the West Indies, scheduled to begin on 14 October.

“We haven’t been looking for a replacement. Marvan gave no reason for his resignation and he was under contract for another year. Next week we will decide whether his replacement will be appointed on a permanent or interim basis, and a final decision will be taken before the West Indies tour,” clarified De Silva.

Atapattu abruptly called an end to his stint as the national coach yesterday just days after Sri Lanka’s Test series loss to India, which marked the first home series loss to India since 1993. This was the team’s second successive home Test series defeat having previously lost 2-1 to Pakistan as well.

Atapattu officially held the position of Sri Lanka Coach since September 2014 but had effectively filled the role since Paul Farbrace’s departure in April last year. He coached the side through Sri Lanka’s historic Test series win in England which was consolidated with an ODI series win. The SLC will now look to appoint a new coach ahead of a crucial period for a young Sri Lankan team in transition. With the recent departure of Chaminda Vaas as the team’s Bowling Coach and veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara’s retirement, the board will look to rally the backroom staff as well as the team ahead of the next series. News reports indicate that the SLC Interim Committee already had a candidate in mind to fill Atapattu’s shoes although officials now claim that no decision will be made in haste.