Bangla Tigers' coach for Abu Dhabi T10 is a cricketer who hit a half-century only through boundaries and sixes

By K.R. Nayar 

Sri Lanka’s Thilina Kandamby has been appointed as coach of the Bangla Tigers team for the oncoming Abu Dhabi T10. With numerous achievements in the shorter format of the game, he could well be the ideal coach for the Bangla Tigers to emerge as winners of this tournament. At 38, he is one of the youngest coaches given that Kandamby was playing international cricket till six years ago

Thilina Kandamby

In the modern world of cricket where matches are held almost every day, many special performances go unnoticed. Very often it is the performance by superstars alone that remains etched in our memories. Sri Lanka's Thilina Kandamby is a specialist in limited-overs cricket who was involved in creating a special moment in the history of the game although it did not receive huge prominence.

In 2004, while playing in a match against Zimbabwe A, Kandamby scored 52 only through shots to boundaries and over it. He hit 10 boundaries and two sixes. This was the first instance in first-class cricket when an innings of 50 or more was made entirely through shots to boundaries and over it.

Kandamby had even captained the Sri Lankan team in a T20 match against England at Bristol  in 2011 in place of an injured Tillakaratne Dilshan. Incidentally, it was legendary opener Sanath Jayasuriya’s last T20 match of his career. In fact, that was the lone match that Kandamby had captained, but it resulted in Sri Lanka winning by nine wickets. Mahela Jaywaradene’s unbeaten 72 and Kumar Sangakkara’s unconquered 43 ensured Sri Lanka an empathic win.

Thilina Kandamby in action

MC Group-owned Bangla Tigers picked Kandamby who is one of the youngest coaches in the world today as their team’s coach. As a coach, 38-year-old Kandamby had guided Jaffa Stallions to their title triumph in the recent Lanka Premier League.

Commenting on his role for Bangla Tigers, Kandamby said: “I am thankful to the Bangla Tigers franchise for giving me this opportunity. I am excited about the challenges ahead. T10 is a fast-evolving format of cricket and I am looking forward to experiencing it personally.”
Till about six years ago, Kandamby had been playing international cricket. He played the last of his 33 One Day Internationals against England at Hambantota. He was also playing first-class cricket till about four years ago. Incidentally, in his last first-class match he cracked 60 for the Sinhalese Sports Club in the AIA Premier League Tournament.

Mohammad Yasin Chowdhury, Chairman, Bangla Tigers, talked about what prompted him to pick Kandamby:  “We are pleased to have Thilina (Kandamby) on board with us. He was the coach of Jaffa Stallions that won the just concluded Lanka Premier League, and so we are looking forward to him helping us lift the trophy this year.”

Kandamby will work closely with Lance Klusener, who is Director, Cricket Operations of Bangla Tigers, and team advisor Paul Farbrace. Bangla Tigers had made their debut in Abu Dhabi T10 last year and finished third.

Farbrace believes that Kandamby is the right candidate for the role. “Having interacted with Kandamby as a player during my time in Sri Lanka as their coach, I know he has a very good acumen of the game and handles the pressure of the game well, which will, in turn, benefit our exciting young group of players. T10 is a fantastic game and the team that executes their plan best under pressure has a strong chance to win the tournament,” said Farbrace, who will not be flying to the UAE but will co-ordinate with Kandamby and his players.

“Due to unavoidable circumstances, I won’t be available with the team in the UAE this year but will continue to be involved closely with the players and team management by providing my observations, and we look forward to winning the title this year.”