Sri Lanka Cricket‘s Transformation Committee reports that a new constitution has been prepared and submitted to the country’s sports minister.
This is a significant step toward improving the game’s governance. However, before it can be adopted, the new constitution must go through the necessary legal procedures.
In addition to focusing on the sport’s long-term growth, the committee has been working to enhance Sri Lanka Cricket’s overall governance structure. Sidath Wettimuny, a former Sri Lankan batter, noted that some methods have already been implemented to improve on-field cricket.
These include expanding pitch curation, improving coaching programs, enhancing umpiring standards, and introducing iHawk, an automated pitch data tracking system.
Wettimuny also underlined how former Sri Lankan captains Kumar Sangakkara and Roshan Mahanama helped to the process of change. He states that both have actively participated in the development of men’s and women’s cricket, contributing in the formation of plans to increase standards and ensure Sri Lankan cricket’s long-term success.
“We’re doing a lot for women’s cricket because, as you can see, it’s expanding rapidly. However, we are also learning about the disciplinary, managerial, and protective components of the game.
Roshan spends a lot of time researching what other countries do to protect and develop players. So we’re happy to have Roshan and Kumar,” Wettimuny added, as reported by Cricketinfo.
As part of Sri Lanka Cricket’s transformation ambitions, Wettimuny also announced that talks are in progress to employ Ashley Ross, a well-known high-performance coach and coach developer.
In order to analyse the board’s strength and conditioning regimens, training approaches, and general high-performance practices, he continued, the committee is also engaging closely with seasoned sports physiotherapist Alex Kountouris, who just flew to Sri Lanka.
It is anticipated that his suggestions would have a significant impact on player development and the nation’s cricket infrastructure. “We are working on a two-year programme and I’m hoping that that will materialise soon because that’s one of the key areas as far as I’m concerned where we are really falling short.
Don’t get me wrong, nobody’s fault, but because of the cricket boom, we were unable to keep up with our teaching skills,” Wettimuny remarked.
“By coaching skills, I don’t just mean certification. It is the general knowledge that allows you to explain to a pupil why he is doing something, why he should not do something, and so on. So we’re quite interested and excited if Ashley Ross comes in,” he added.
In addition, Sri Lanka Cricket aims to appoint an umpire manager to oversee the initiative, as well as two umpiring coaches to help improve officials at all levels, from first-class cricket to the school system. Furthermore, by appointing a head curator to oversee all international cricket locations across the country, the board wants to build a centralised system for pitch preparation.
With plans to restructure the domestic system, the Transformation Committee is focusing on age-group cricket. One suggestion for improving player development and smoothing the transition from youth cricket to senior cricket is to replace the current Under-23 domestic competition with an Under-21 event.
“They will also go into club and school grounds, and we will assist schools if they require it. If we hold an Under-21 competition, players will be able to compete, and we will be able to develop those players from 18 to 21, while keeping an eye on them from SLC. So that is something that is being discussed,” Wettimuny explained.
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