Bipin Dani
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board has sent the Under-19 coach Avishka Gunawardene to train members of the senior national Test players in India, it is learnt.
According to highly placed sources, Avishka Gunawardene has travelled with a few Test players (who were not part of the T-20I squad) to India. “They were not sent to Lucknow or Dharamshala where the T-20Is were played but have directly reached Mohali”, one of the sources in the PCA (Punjab Cricket Association) confirmed.
Former left-handed batsman Gunawardene is not a part of the official squad and is likely to return before the Test series begins early next month.
“He has been sent to train the Test players ahead of the two Test matches. Once the full squad reaches Mohali (on Monday) after the 3rd T-20I is over on Sunday night, the coaching staff will take charge of the Test team”, the source in the SLC, said.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to play two Test matches in Mohali (March 4-8) and Bangalore (Match 12-16). Avishka was also coaching the Test probables in Colombo before the final squad was picked. He will take charge of the junior boys on his return from India.
