13 December 2023 10:38 am Views - 2589
By: Bipin Dani
According to highly placed sources, the 47-year-old Mahela discussed the reasons for the team's debacle in the recent World Cup, where he travelled with the national team to India and he also had disclosed future plans for the betterment of cricket in the country.
"His contract runs for another three months and he didn't indicate resigning from the post", one of the sources who attended the meeting said.
"We are considering hiring the services of another former captain and all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya for the similar post. If all goes well and Sanath accepts the responsibilities, he will be the full-time consultant unlike Mahela, who has been appearing and disappearing. Sanath will also monitor the performance of the coaching staff", the source further added.
The Sports Minister who had handled the portfolio in the past also has appointed a five-member national selection panel headed by Upul Tharanga. The charge for the new selection panel has come into effect from Tuesday (December 12) itself.
The SLC management had sent a list of 11 candidates for the post and it also included a few members, including chairman of the selection committee Pramodya Wickramsinghe from the previous selection committee, it is understood.
"The Minister wanted the new faces particularly after the debacle in the World Cup. According to the Minister, the former panel was experimenting with the composition of the team and there was no accountability," the source further added.