Chandika Hathurusingha has been appointed as Sri Lanka head coach with effect from December 20, the country's cricket board SLC announced on Friday. "Hathurusinghe rejoins Sri Lanka Cricket after previous stints as head coach of the Sri Lanka A team (2006-2009) and shadow coach of the national team (2009-2010)," a SLC release said.
SLC had negotiated his release from Bangladesh where he was the head coach and was credited for the team's good showing. Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka at home under Hathurusinghes tutelage.
The next big task lined up for the new coach is the team's tour to Bangladesh in January to play two Tests and one T20I matches.
Incidentally, Hathurusingha had quit as Bangladesh head coach in October this year for reportedly being unsatisfied with the state for his role.
It was since then that the SLC had been mulling to rope in Hathurusingha as their head coach and had approached him several times.
Meanwhile, it was also confirmed that Hathurusingha will be the highest-paid Sri Lanka coach in history. He is expected to coach Sri Lanka to the 2019 World Cup in England.
Hathurusingha had earlier coached Sri Lanka A and was also named as an assistant coach with the national team, but was fired in June 2010 due to disciplinary reasons. Sri Lanka have been looking for a permanent head coach since the departure of Graham Ford in June.
The right-handed all-rounder, who bowled medium-fast, had played 26 Tests and 35 One Day Internationals for the Sri Lankan national cricket team.
(With PTI Inputs)
