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Updated July 19th, 2019 at 16:32 IST

Sri Lanka's government unsparing over World Cup disappointment; heads set to roll

After a miserable run in the 2019 World Cup, the Sri Lankan sports minister has ordered the head coach of the national team to be sacked. Sri Lanka's disappointing campaign saw just three victories from nine games, as they finished sixth in the tournament table.  

Reported by: Koushik Narayanan
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After a miserable run in the 2019 World Cup, the Sri Lankan sports minister has ordered the head coach of the national team to be sacked. Sri Lanka's disappointing campaign saw just three victories from nine games, as they finished sixth in the tournament table.  

Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and his support staff would be fired after the upcoming one-day series against Bangladesh, according to sources in Sri Lanka Cricket. Sports Minister Harin Fernando ordered the coaches' sacking and has said that 'they should leave after the Bangladesh tournament', the official said. He also revealed that Fernando had wanted to make the changes before the World Cup commenced.      

Chandika Hathurusingha had earlier said that he would have to wait to see what was going to happen to his contract with the national side. He also added that the coaching staff had to 'accept the responsibility' for the side's debacle at the showpiece tournament. 

"I have another 16 months," he told reporters after returning to Colombo from the tournament where Sri Lanka finished a disappointing sixth. "I hope to remain until my contract runs out."

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Hathurusingha was roped in as head coach for the side in December 2017 after Sri Lanka was humiliated by India in Test games both at home and away. The former Sri Lankan cricketer was previously with Bangladesh as the coach for three successful years. Under Hathurusingha, the side notched up victories against Australia and England in Test matches, getting the side back to winning ways after a short-spell of losses. 

The contracts of fielding coach Steve Rixon, batting coach Jon Lewis, and bowling coach Rumesh Ratnayake will also not be renewed when they end, according to Sri Lanka Cricket officials. 

Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka is set to begin on 26 July as they are the first foreign sports team to visit the island nation after the deadly April 21 suicide bombings that saw 258 people being killed. The series will conclude on August 1 at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.   

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Published July 19th, 2019 at 15:03 IST

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