Bipin Dani
Sri Lanka’s former Head Coach Mickey Arthur, who was scheduled to be the head coach of the Galle Gladiators team in the third edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will now, instead coach the Dambulla team, according to Samantha Dodanwela, the Tournament Director.
Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Colombo, he said, Arthur will be the coach of the Dambulla Giants and will be assisted by Avishka Gunwardene. The national captain of the white ball team Dasun Shanaka will be the captain”.
The reason for Arthur’s switching to Dambulla is likely to be the wish of the owner of the Galle Gladiators team. It is learnt that Nadeem Omar has hired the services of Moin Khan and Umar Gul for his team.
The Head Coaches of all the LPL teams are : Thilina Kandamby (Jaffna Kings), Ruwan Kalpage (Colombo Kings), Moin Khan (Galle Gladiators), Mickey Arthur (Dambulla Giants) and Piyal Wijetunge (Kandy Warriors). The Kandy team owners have also hired Sanath Jayasuriya as the team mentor.
All national players who were part of the recently played series against Afghanistan are given a 3-day rest. All teams are assembling in Hambantota for the first leg of the tournament on 3rd and 4th December. The tournament kicks off on Tuesday with the first match between Jaffna and Galle.
The 7th match onwards the tournament will move to Pallekele. The last leg of the LPL will be played from 17th match onwards to Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium
