Will Roshan Mahanama take on the role of Sri Lanka’s head coach?

 By K.R. Nayar

After Ravi Shastri guided India to great success, it seems many more nations are likely to opt for cricketers-turned-coaches from their own country. Sri Lanka’s legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who visited the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium press box even remarked that Sri Lanka should consider Roshan Mahanama as the successor to their present head coach Mickey Arthur.

Muttiah Muralitharan answer queries from journalists inside the press box 

It was a pleasant surprise to have Muttiah Muralitharan visit the press box and talk to journalists. Since Mickey Arthur was appointed as Head coach in December 2019 for a period of two years and his term is set to end, Muralitharan was asked about who should be the next Sri Lankan head coach.

The news about Rahul Dravid likely to take over from Shastri as India’s next head coach could inspire Sri Lanka too to opt for their own countryman as the head coach. Muralitharan, who is also the brand ambassador of the ICC T-20 World Cup, said: “There is lack of discipline in the team. Roshan (Mahanama) is someone who is disciplined and he will help us to get over the hurdle. It is not easy to do that with seniors’ egos. If Roshan comes in, the whole mindset will change. That will help Sri Lankan Cricket. But again this is my opinion.”

Muttiah Muralitharan with journalists from Sri Lanka 

Shastri's success has been attributed to his man- management skills, and today what every team needs is someone who can create a good rapport among team members more than correcting their skills. It is Mahanama’s affable character that earned him the ICC match referee role, which he has performed with elegance.

 “It would be ideal if our local coaches can handle things. There are vast language barriers when foreign coaches are involved,” added Muralitharan.  

Currently, Sri Lanka's former captain Mahela Jayawardene is with the team in a temporary role as a mentor for the ongoing T-20 World Cup. He will return after the qualifying round since he has been in the bio bubble for over four months now.  

Roshan Mahanama. Photo: Twitter 

There are many reasons why Mahanama should be considered for the coach’s role. Firstly, it is his respect for the game. In June 2020, Dubai-based Tellicherry Cricket Club invited Mahanama for a zoom talk for their budding cricketers. I was fortunate to participate in that session where Mahanama remarked about his grooming as a player. He said: “My first coach was Nelson Mendis and he taught me great things. The most important one has always been to respect our cricket equipment. So from a very young age, I learned that we need to clean our gloves, boots, and pads.”

Mahanama also stressed the importance of how to look like a cricketer. “Cut your nails, keep your fingers clean. It helps when you take catches as your nails won’t crack.” He also gave an important piece of advice: “Never be disappointed. Make your bat do the talking.” Incidentally, whenever Mahanama has gone out to bat, he kisses the handle of his bat.