Cricket news - Sri Lanka relieve Hathurusingha of selection duties on tour

Sri Lanka coach Chandika Hathurusingha has effectively been removed from his position as a selector-on-tour after a new directive from the cricket board. In the aftermath of a heavy defeat in Brisbane, Sri Lanka Cricket has decided that the selections on tour will now be made entirely by a committee comprising of team manager and captain in consultation with the national selection committee, which is populated by Asantha De Mel, Brendon Kuruppu, Hemantha Wickramaratne and Chaminda Mendis.

"The team on tour shall be made by a committee comprising of team manager and captain in consultation with the national selection committee," SLC mentioned in a release. "The majority decision of the manager, captain and members of the selection committee shall prevail on any selection made thereof."

Hathurusingha hasn't had full powers as a selector in Sri Lanka anyway because the sports laws in the country prevent him from doing so. He wasn't a part of selections at home but to allow him some say in selections, much like he had as a coach in Bangladesh, Hathurusingha was asked to be the coach cum selector whenever Sri Lanka played away from home.

With the team in a crisis, the changes in the selection ecosystem may have an affect on how the team operates. Sri Lanka next play Australia in the second and final Test of the series in Canberra on Friday (February 1).