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Paul Khouri is a highly qualified strength and conditioning coach who has held senior positions at Sussex County Club etc[/caption]
At least three support-staff members of the Sri Lanka cricket team are likely to be either sacked or removed without extending their current contracts, it was learnt yesterday (28).
The move followed Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa’s decision to initiate drastic measures to take national cricket back on track on Wednesday (27).
Rehabilitation and Training Manager of the Sri Lanka cricket team Paul Khoury and have been either removed from their posts immediately or are unlikely to be given extensions to their current contracts, The Morning Sports learnt.
“We are in the process of restructuring those two departments. We will not extend their contracts definitely,” said CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Ashley de Silva yesterday.
It is also understood that Khoury’s contract with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is now over. Khouri is a highly qualified strength and conditioning coach who has held senior positions at Sussex County Club and Brighton Football Club while also being consultant for England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Harlequin Rugby Union.
Yet the support staff members are likely to face the axe as a result of allegedly altering data of fitness reports of a prominent Sri Lanka player, as was exposed in the media last week. By doctoring data in the player’s report, the player concerned had been passed for the forthcoming tour of West Indies. The incident was highlighted in great measure in the media at a context where several local players missed key Test matches recently for injuries.
“We will be having discussion with them (the three above-mentioned support staffers) within another day of two. Some of their contracts are expiring at the end of this year and some are expiring in May. We will have discussions with them on how we are going to move forward and whether we will want to keep them till the end of the year or not,” de Silva clarified.
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Ajantha Wattegama (left) with an injured Lahiru Kumara[/caption]
It was also on Wednesday that the National Selection Committee Chairman Ashantha de Mel resigned citing personal reasons. He had earlier resigned as the Manager of the Sri Lanka team soon after the disastrous 2-0 drubbing the home team received at the hands of England in Galle on Monday (25).
Sports Minister Rajapaksa pledged on Wednesday, after meeting with the SLC higher-ups along with former Captains Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara who are members the National Sports Council appointed by the Minister last year, that he will replace the entire national selection committee too.
Also among other measures the Minister is going to introduce are initiating a performance-based paying scheme for the contracted national players, more competitive domestic and provincial tournament structure, and appointing a mentor and director to assist the current Sri Lanka Head Coach Mickey Arthur.
Paul Khouri is a highly qualified strength and conditioning coach who has held senior positions at Sussex County Club etc[/caption]
At least three support-staff members of the Sri Lanka cricket team are likely to be either sacked or removed without extending their current contracts, it was learnt yesterday (28).
The move followed Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa’s decision to initiate drastic measures to take national cricket back on track on Wednesday (27).
Rehabilitation and Training Manager of the Sri Lanka cricket team Paul Khoury and have been either removed from their posts immediately or are unlikely to be given extensions to their current contracts, The Morning Sports learnt.
“We are in the process of restructuring those two departments. We will not extend their contracts definitely,” said CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Ashley de Silva yesterday.
It is also understood that Khoury’s contract with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is now over. Khouri is a highly qualified strength and conditioning coach who has held senior positions at Sussex County Club and Brighton Football Club while also being consultant for England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Harlequin Rugby Union.
Yet the support staff members are likely to face the axe as a result of allegedly altering data of fitness reports of a prominent Sri Lanka player, as was exposed in the media last week. By doctoring data in the player’s report, the player concerned had been passed for the forthcoming tour of West Indies. The incident was highlighted in great measure in the media at a context where several local players missed key Test matches recently for injuries.
“We will be having discussion with them (the three above-mentioned support staffers) within another day of two. Some of their contracts are expiring at the end of this year and some are expiring in May. We will have discussions with them on how we are going to move forward and whether we will want to keep them till the end of the year or not,” de Silva clarified.
[caption id="attachment_116571" align="alignleft" width="445"] Ajantha Wattegama (left) with an injured Lahiru Kumara[/caption]
It was also on Wednesday that the National Selection Committee Chairman Ashantha de Mel resigned citing personal reasons. He had earlier resigned as the Manager of the Sri Lanka team soon after the disastrous 2-0 drubbing the home team received at the hands of England in Galle on Monday (25).
Sports Minister Rajapaksa pledged on Wednesday, after meeting with the SLC higher-ups along with former Captains Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara who are members the National Sports Council appointed by the Minister last year, that he will replace the entire national selection committee too.
Also among other measures the Minister is going to introduce are initiating a performance-based paying scheme for the contracted national players, more competitive domestic and provincial tournament structure, and appointing a mentor and director to assist the current Sri Lanka Head Coach Mickey Arthur.