BIPIN DANI
Former Sri Lankan cricketer Naveed Nawaz is Cricket Advisory Committee's (CAC) first choice as national coach, it is learnt.
According to the highly placed sources in SLC (Sri Lanka Cricket), the CAC has sent a list of several candidates for various coaching assignments.
"We submitted the list about a month ago and Naveed Nawaz is our first choice to be the coach of the national men's team", one of the CAC members, speaking exclusively over telephone from Colombo said.
"We interviewed 23 candidates and the total12-hour long interview process also included foreigners".
It is assumed that the 48-year-old former left-handed batsman's name was sent after at least two foreigners (Paul Farbrace and Graham Ford) backed out.
"It was a decision of majority members and his final name was then suggested unanimously".
It is not known why the SLC has not yet appointed any full-time coach.
"The CAC didn't discuss the remuneration part. That is for the SLC to negotiate with the individuals", the CAC member added.
In the meantime, no decision is yet taken on Lahiru Kumara's return. "The injured pacer is out of cricket for more than a month. There is no point in keeping him with the team", the SLC source added.
"He is still in Mohali and the decision about him will be taken soon when boys travel to Bangalore on Wednesday afternoon".
