Colombo: Sri Lanka's cricket chiefs on Monday sacked national coach Dav Whatmore, saying they were looking for a replacement to inject "fresh thinking" into the team.

Whatmore, a Sri Lankan-born Australian, became a national hero when he masterminded Sri Lanka's World Cup triumph in 1996.

But cricket bosses here decided they would not renew his contract after Sri Lanka bowed out in the semi-finals of the recent World Cup in South Africa. "Whatmore has been with the team for a long time and what we feel is that there should be fresh thinking," said Anura Tennekoon, chief executive of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka.

Tennekoon said they were already looking for a new face to replace Whatmore, whose contract ends in May. The national team's long-time physiotherapist, Alex Kontouri, will also be replaced next month, Tennekoon said.

The five-member selection committee has been revamped with the addition of the recently retired Aravinda de Silva.

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya had also tendered his resignation after the World Cup, but Sports Minister Johnston Fernando rejected it.

Jayasuriya and Whatmore will continue to be in charge of the team for the Sharjah Cup against Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Kenya from April 1-10 and the subsequent home series against New Zealand from April 25.

Copyright AFP 2001

Extras:
Jayasuriya named Lanka captain for Sharjah