According to Sri Lanka Cricket‘s Transformation Committee, a new constitution has been drafted and presented to the country’s sports minister. This is a significant step toward improving the governance of the game. However, the new constitution still needs to go through the necessary legal processes before it can be put into effect.
The committee has been working to enhance Sri Lanka Cricket’s overall governance structure in addition to focusing on the sport’s long-term development. Former Sri Lankan batsman Sidath Wettimuny said several steps have already been taken to improve cricket on the pitch. These include improving umpiring standards, strengthening coaching programs, expanding pitch curation, and introducing iHawk, an automated pitch data tracking system.
Wettimuny also highlighted the role that former Sri Lankan captains Roshan Mahanama and Kumar Sangakkara had in the transformation. He asserts that both have actively contributed to the development of both men’s and women’s cricket, helping to create strategies intended to improve standards and ensure the long-term prosperity of Sri Lankan cricket.
“As you can see, women’s cricket is expanding quickly, therefore we are doing a lot with it. However, there are several facets of that game that we are still figuring out, such as the management, protection, and disciplinary aspects. Roshan spends a lot of time researching how other nations protect and develop their players. We are fortunate to have Roshan and Kumar, according to Wettimuny, who was cited by Cricinfo.
Wettimuny also revealed that negotiations are underway to hire Ashley Ross, a renowned high-performance coach and coach developer, as part of Sri Lanka Cricket’s transformation goals.
He added that the committee is working closely with seasoned sports physiotherapist Alex Kountouris, who recently visited Sri Lanka Cricket, to assess the board’s strength and conditioning programs, training methods, and overall high-performance practices. His recommendations are expected to have a big impact on the country’s cricket infrastructure and player development.
“We are working on a two-year program and I’m hoping that will materialise soon because that’s one of the key areas as far as I’m concerned where we are really falling short.” No fault of anyone, don’t get me wrong, but we were unable to maintain up with our coaching abilities because to the cricket boom that occurred,” stated Wettimuny.
“I’m not only referring to a qualification when I say coaching skills. It’s that general understanding that allows you to explain to a pupil why he is doing something, why he shouldn’t do something, etc. Thus, we are eager and thrilled for Ashley Ross to visit,” he continued.
Sri Lanka Cricket also plans to employ two umpiring coaches to help develop officials at all levels, from first-class cricket to the school system, and an umpire manager to oversee the program. The board also intends to create a centralised system for pitch preparation by appointing a head curator to supervise all international cricket locations across the country.
The Transformation Committee is focusing on age-group cricket as part of its attempts to revamp the domestic system. One of the recommended changes is to replace the present Under-23 domestic competition with an Under-21 event to expedite player development and facilitate a more seamless transition from youth cricket to the senior level.
“They will [also] visit club and school grounds, and if they require assistance, we will even assist the schools. Players can participate in an Under-21 competition, and we will be able to develop such players from the age of 18 to 21 while monitoring them from Sri Lanka Cricket. Wettimuny stated, “So that’s something that’s being discussed.”
