Sri Lanka’s Head Coach Nic Pothas has justified his decision to not to travel to Lahore for the last game of the ongoing bilateral series against Pakistan later this month.
The former South African wicketkeeper batsman and the team’s physiotherapist Nirmalan Dhanabalasingham joined seven other Sri Lankan players in not touring to Lahore for the T20I.
The players’ decision to not to travel to Lahore made them ineligible for the entire series as Sri Lanka Cricket had earlier announced that one squad will play the all three games of the T20I series. The first two games will take place in Abu Dhabi.
“It was a family decision. My family is not very happy about me going. For me my family comes first,” Pothas told Cricbuzz. “Everyone get a chance to make their own decisions. No one should be forced to do anything that they are not comfortable with. It was not an easy decision to make. It has to be respected,” Pothas added.
“Some Pakistani media earlier today reminded me that several South Africans had gone to Lahore last month for the World XI games. It was their decision. Their decision doesn’t influence my decision. Ideally the Board wanted everyone to go. But no one pressurised me to do anything,” Pothas added.
Pothas, however, is expected to stay with the team for the Abu Dhabi game and someone within the coaching staff is expected to take charge for the last game. Fast Bowling Coach Rumesh Ratnayake had a brief stint as Sri Lanka’s Head Coach in 2011. There is also former captain Hashan Thilakaratne, currently the team’s batting coach, who could take over the side in Pakistan.
