Bipin Dani
Former Sri Lankan opening batter Avishka Gunawardene has joined the national team as its batting coach, it is reliably learnt.
According to the well-placed sources in the SLC, the 45-year-old Avishka Gunawardene was conveyed about this decision on Tuesday and has already joined the squad in Galle on Thursday.
“We are trying to groom the local coaches and as per this new policy, he will replace Dharshana Gamage, who was a bowling coach in New Zealand”, the source, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo, said.
Incidentally, Gamage (bowling) and Thilina Kandamby (batting) are both white ball coaches and had traveled with the team to New Zealand and both have been left out for the two Tests match series at home.
This, however, is not Avishka’s first assignment with the senior team. He has already worked with the national team on a few occasions. Avishka will help the bowlers, whereas Naveed Nawaz will continue to be the batting coach.
The Sri Lankan team had its first official training (2-5 pm) at the Galle International Stadium on Friday. He is now working with the A team at the High Performance Centre.
Family members The SLC has allowed the family members to join and accordingly, the wives of Dhananjaya de Silva and Ramesh Mendis have traveled to Galle. Dinesh Chandimal’s wife is likely to join on Saturday. The wife of Angelo Mathews may join during the second Test.
