Colombo: Just three days after being appointed as Sri Lanka’s bowling coach for the tour of West Indies, Chaminda Vaas announced his resignation from the post on Monday, effective from March 26 over a pay dispute.
The 47-year-old, who took 761 international wickets for Sri Lanka, also informed the board that he wouldn’t be able to tour West Indies as a member of the support staff, a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed.
Vaas’s resignation came just hours before the team was scheduled to depart for the Caribbean, where they will play three T20I, three ODIs and a two-match Test series throughout March and April.
“It is particularly disheartening to note that in an economic climate such as the one facing the entire globe right now, Mr. Vass has made this sudden and irresponsible move on the eve of the team’s departure, based on personal monetary gain,” SLC said in a statement.
Vaas was appointed as fast bowling coach on Friday, following the resignation of David Saker, who stepped down for personal reasons.
“The Management of SLC, and indeed the entire nation, hold Mr Vaas in high esteem as a cricketer who has excelled for his country. His years of yeoman service have been appreciated and rewarded over the years both in status and in kind,” SLC further said.
“In such circumstances, it is extremely disheartening that a legend such as Chaminda Vaas has resorted to holding the administration, the cricketers, and indeed the game at ransom, by handing in his resignation at the eleventh hour, citing the administration’s refusal to accede to an unjustifiable demand for an increased USD remuneration, in spite of being a contracted employee of Sri Lanka Cricket, already receiving remuneration that is in keeping with his experience, qualifications, and expertise, in addition to which he would have been entitled to the usual USD per diems offered to all members of a traveling squad,” it added.
The former pacer has previously coached Sri Lanka in 2013, 2015, and briefly in 2017. In between these stints with the national teams, he coached fast bowlers in the SLC Academy, while also working with Under-19 and Sri Lanka A teams. (UNI)