Vaas named Sri Lanka’s Fast Bowling Coach

Chaminda Vaas has been appointed as the new Fast Bowling Coach of the national cricket team.

 Former fast bowling great Chaminda Vaas has been roped in by Sri Lanka Cricket to fill the void created by Australian David Saker, who decided to end his tenure abruptly 14 months into his contract. Vaas (47) will take over for Sri Lanka’s tour of West Indies, Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement. It wasn’t mentioned whether he will continue beyond the tour of West Indies.

Vaas, Sri Lanka’s most successful fast bowler, has had previous stints with the national cricket team and has been highly critical about the fitness standards of the national cricket team.

In 2015, in an interview with Sunday Island, Vaas called Sri Lanka’s fast bowlers ‘fat and unfit’, a comment that got him in trouble as a senior fast bowler revolted against him.

Sri Lanka Cricket demoted him due to pressure from the particular senior fast bowler infamous for slow over rates. But what Vaas has been stressing on has come to the fore in the last few months with several fast bowlers unable to take the workload and breaking down in middle of games.

Vaas represented the national cricket team for 16 years and had just one major injury. He credits his super fitness levels for an injury free career. While several senior Sri Lankan cricketers have failed the recently introduced two kilometer fitness run – unable to meet the eight minutes 35 seconds standards, Vaas is said to be finishing it in flying colours.

Vaas has had three previous stints with the national cricket team and recently has worked with Sri Lanka Under-19 and Development Squads where he has been able to unearth some raw talent who impressed during the Lanka Premier League.

Sri Lanka will leave for West Indies in the early hours of Tuesday. They will play two Tests, three ODIs and three T-20 Internationals. On return home, they will be involved in a Test series against Bangladesh.