Afghanistan team to have Sri Lankan batting coach

By BIPIN DANI

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is likely to appoint a new batting coach from Sri Lanka for their forthcoming series against Pakistan. This was confirmed by Dr. Hamid Shinwari, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ACB.
Speaking exclusively over the telephone from Kabul, he said, “Lance Klusener (South Africa) is our head-coach and Ireland all-rounder John Mooney will be our fielding coach. We shall hire a Sri Lankan batting coach.” 
Former Australian fast-bowler Shaun Tait was also recently appointed as the Afghanistan national team’s bowling coach.

The CEO didn’t specify the names of the Sri Lankans approached for the job. However, according to unconfirmed sources, Hashan Tillakaratne was/is likely to be their first choice. The hurdle for the negotiations is that Tillakaratne is currently the Sri Lanka national women’s team coach.
If the signing goes off a Sri Lankan coach goes through, it will be the third recent instance of a Sri Lankan coach being hired by a foreign team. 

Rangana Herath has begun working with Bangladesh (who recently recorded a 4-1 T20I victory over the visiting Australian team) while Thilan Samaraweera is to join the New Zealand coaching staff for their upcoming assignments versus Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Afghanistan will be playing Pakistan in three ODIs in Hambantota, Sri Lanka in early September. There had also been preliminary talks of Afghanistan hosting a tri-nation T-20I series involving Australia and the West Indies. The talks, however, had not gone further, it is understood.