The Sri Lankan Head Coaches At The Asia Cup
This year's edition of the Asia Cup, has three Sri Lankans as Head Coaches for their respective teams, which is also the most representation from a single country!
If someone told you that most of the Head Coaches of the teams taking part in the Asia Cup this year were Sri Lankan, you'd probably think that person has been on a very 'cold' substance that has been recently making headlines across the country, but here's what you need to know!
With the expansion to 8 teams for the first time ever in the T20I format, 3 out of the 8 teams have a Sri Lankan Head Coach, with the next most coming from India with Gautam Gambir (India) and Lalchand Rajput (UAE) while the remaing three originate from the West Indies (Phil Simmons for Bangladesh), New Zealand (Mike Hesson for Pakistan) and Jonathan Trot the South African born English Cricketer for Afghanistan.
Sri Lanka - Sanath Jayasuriya
Taking over as Head Coach last year, the former Sri Lankan opener has had a fair journey with the team under a new panel of selectors and coaching staff since their last outing in the 2023 edition which ended in a disastrous final with firecrackers being lit as early as 6 in the evening in an ODI match that lasted just 21.3 overs.
The new whiteball captain, head coach and chief selector of Sri Lanka Cricket
Nevertheless, Sri Lanka is coming into the tournament as the 2022 edition champions (T20I format) with a mix of old and new faces, with an explosive opening pair that resembles the Head Coach himself and some exciting talent in the bowling department, with a few concerns to be addressed if things go south.
Oman - Duleep Mendis
With almost 15 years in Oman, Duleep Mendis who once managed the 1996 World Cup winning team is more than just a coach, but the Chief Development Officer at Oman Cricket. Whatever Oman has achieved so far, whether it's taking part in the Asia Cup, achieving the ODI status, or floodlights in prominent venues, was all his hard work and vision beyond his coaching role.
Duleep Mendis with the Oman team
In fact, Oman have made significant strides as they were the Champions in the Asian Qualifier for the previous edition of the T20 World Cup, apart from taking part in the Asia Cup for the first time this year.
Hong Kong - Kaushal Silva
Hong Kong are not a stranger to the Asia Cup as an Associate Nation, but this time will be headed by another former Sri Lankan Test Cricketer - Kaushal Silva. Though not a flamboyant cricketer like the other coaches who played before him, Kaushal has been into mentoring and for the first time, with the role of a Head Coach of a national team since July.
Kaushal Silva back when he was part of the Sri Lankan Test team
Although Hong Kong will be playing their last group match in the Asia Cup against Sri Lanka on the 15th with 2 defeats and not make it past to the new round, their performance against Bangladesh is commendable and will look forward to making it to next year's World Cup through the Qualifiers.