Marvan Atapattu is likely to replace Englishman Paul Farbrace on an interim basis after the latter left Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) just five months into his first major international appointment for a lucrative job at the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Farbrace resignation has left troubled SLC in a major strife leading into a major international season beginning with a full tour to England where Farbrace will now be on the opposing camp.
Sri Lanka will host number-one ranked test side South Africa and Pakistan soon after the England series.
With less than two weeks for the series in Ireland and England, SLC will be compelled to appoint Atapattu, who was one of the two shortlisted candidates to take up the job, before chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya convinced Farbrace to take up the Sri Lankan job in December. Farbrace’s contract began on January 1 this year, but he only took charge of the team before their tour of Bangladesh, which began on January 24 after his predecessor Graham Ford quit after a two year successful stint.
“The national coach Paul Farbrace tendered his resignation and has indicated to SLC of his unavailability to continue with SLC with immediate effect in order to take up an appointment with the ECB,” a press release from SLC said yesterday.
“We have not yet gone into the details with regard to his resignation or any other interim arrangements after the turn of events,” said SLC secretary Nishantha Ranatunga.
Farbrace met SLC officials including Jayasuriya on Monday and indicated that he was positively looking at the offer despite a request from SLC to reconsider the decision until next year’s World Cup.
“It’s just about making sure that we would make the right decision,” Farbrace was quoted as saying by Cricinfo on Tuesday.
Frabrace was lured by the alluring offer made by his home board, the ECB to become their assistant coach in a major shake-up in their national cricket set-up following a series of defeats.
“It’s a hard one because it’s between the country of your birth and where you live and everything else, and yet I’ve had a wonderful time in Sri Lanka, even since the last time I was here. I understand people’s upset and disappointment, but sometimes opportunities come and you have to decide what the right one to take is,” he was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.
Farbrace drew a monthly salary of US$ 13,500 and was entitled to several other incentives and allowances including free accommodation, travelling, fuel and free air-passage to his country of origin and had been offered double his pay by the ECB.
During his short stint, Sri Lanka have won 17 out of their 18 matches across all formats including the Asia Cup and the World T20 title, a major contributory factor for his latest appointment.
