Paul Farbrace had yesterday intimated to Sri Lanka Cricket that he was positively looking at a lucrative coaching offer from England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) just four months into his Sri Lankan job, Ceylon Today learns.
In desperation Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has offered to compensate him, if the 46-year-old was willing to change his stance.
“We are trying to keep him at least till the next World Cup in 2015. He told us what he has been offered and he is looking at the offer positively as it’s a very impressive offer. But, he never asked anything from us nor said that he has made up his mind,” said SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga.
“So we will try to convince him and keep him at least till the World Cup,” he said.
Farbrace, who led Sri Lanka to 17 wins out of 18 matches including the title wins of Asia Cup and World T20 trophy during his short coaching stint with Sri Lanka, had been offered the post of England’s assistant coach for a rewarding sum.
Farbrace has not made any statement publicly since his name was linked to the English job but on his return to the island from Easter holidays, the 46-year-old had indicated his intimation to Sri Lankan cricket authorities yesterday.
Farbrace met SLC officials including chairman of selectors Sanath Jayasuriya yesterday, the man who was instrumental in signing the former Yorkshire coach in last December after months of negotiations with various individuals including three Sri Lanka coaches to replace Graham Ford.
Farbrace has been lured by the massive pay the ECB has offered which a source said is almost double what SLC pays him monthly and the fact that the offer came from his home board.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) pays him US$ 13,500 monthly, much lower than what his predecessor Graham Ford got and was entitled to several other incentives and allowances including free accommodation, travelling, fuel and free air-passage to his country of origin.
Farbrace is yet to officially communicate his final decision on the matter but cricket sources said indications point to his exit and before his period of probations ends on June 1 with Sri Lanka Cricket.
Farbrace is on a six-month probationary period, which may mean Farbrace can walk out of his contract with few complications.
His appointment also cost Sri Lanka Cricket handsomely as they hosted Yorkshire cricketers in March spending Rs 8 million rupees to compensate the English County for releasing the former wicket-keeper to Sri Lanka and sources said that ECB is willing to pay-back the amount in compensation to SLC.
