Pushpakumara joins with Jaffna Kings as spin coach

Former Sri Lankan all rounder Muthumudalige Pushpakumara has been appointed the spin coach for Jaffna Kings for the second edition of Lanka Premier League (LPL) which will commence from December 5. The 40-year-old left hand batter and right arm off spinner had a very short period with the National team just playing only three ODI’s later became a qualified coach.

The former Anandian played for Colts CC later became the Colts coach and gave his service for nine years. He is the present National Head Coach and Head of Development for Kuwait Cricket since 2019. It was under Muthumudalige Pushpakumara’s leadership that the National Cricket Team of Kuwait got qualified to the Asia Cup. Moreover, his guidance led the National Cricket team of Kuwait to become runners-up at the Asian ( West Region) Championship.

Having shown his all-rounding talent at Ananda College Colombo Pushpakumara was adjudged Observer schoolboy cricketer in 1999. In addition he won the Most Outstanding Sportsman award at the under-17 Singer Trophy Tournament and Prince of Wales Trophy held in 1998.

He was appointed to the post of Jaffna Kings franchise team manager after Sachith Pathirana, the previous Spin bowling Coach, was made the Coach for under-19 Cricket Team of Sri Lanka. The present ICC number one T – 20 bowler Waninidu Hasaranga , Maheesh Theekshana and young leggie Praveen Jayawickrama also named for Jaffna Kings and they could get guidance from Pushpakumara during this LPL .

Meanwhile Kandy Warriors appointed World T20 2007 winning coach India’s Lalchand Rajput as their Head Coach for the upcoming season and Sri Lankan former first-class cricketer now attached to SLC as a coach Ruvin Peiris has been named as Rajput’s deputy. The Warriors have appointed former India fast bowler Atul Wassan as their Director of Cricket.