Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) says consultant coach Mahela Jayawardena has not been tasked with the job of touring with the national team.
It has issued a statement pertaining to media reports on Jayawardena’s absence with the team presently touring New Zealand.
SLC said that as the consultant coach, he is to be in charge of the overall cricketing element of the national teams and to provide invaluable strategic support for the players and management teams at the High-Performance Center.
Jayawardena works on coach and player development programs, the strengthening of domestic cricketing structures, and also focuses on developing the under 19, development, and national teams, it said.
SLC said that he only travels with the national team if its management deems it necessary for him to do so.
“We wish to state that Jayawardena, who is a highly regarded cricketing personality across the cricketing world, has been an invaluable asset to Sri Lanka Cricket since his appointment.”
“According to Mahela, he has even declined a coaching offer from one of the ICC member boards in order to serve Sri Lanka Cricket”, the SLC added.
