Rumesh Ratnayake appointed interim coach for Zimbabwe series

Rumesh Ratnayake will fill the vacant Sri Lanka head coaching position on an interim basis for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said yesterday.   

SLC are in the process of finding a long-term replacement for South African Mickey Arthur, whose Head Coaching stint with Sri Lanka was not extended when his two-year contract ended late last year. 

Ratnayake has been appointed interim coach on a few previous occasions as well, most recently in 2019 after SLC axed Chandika Hathurusinghe, and is currently part of the High Performance Centre coaching set-up as a fast bowling coach. 

Ruvin Peiris, who is also attached to the High Performance Centre, will serve as the batting coach for the Zimbabwe series. 

The Zimbabwe series will consist of three ODI matches, all of which will be played at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on January 16, 18 and 21. 

SLC also confirmed, as the Daily Mirror reported last week, that former national captain Mahela Jayawardena will travel with the Under 19 team for the World Cup in the West Indies, as part of his role as a consult coach of the national teams. 

The World Cup will begin on Sunday.