Stuart Law
Stuart Law, the former assistant coach who has taken over as the interim coach, on Friday said that it was difficult to overcome the lure that is created by the IPL as it makes it difficult for players to continue playing at the international level. He also expressed his sympathy over Malinga’s decision to retire from test cricket. He said how important it was to make friends with the Indian board as the major part of the revenue was generated from there.
His comments followed Malinga’s decision to bid adieu to test cricket last week stating his non-cooperative knee as a reason. It was “the long-standing degenerative condition in the right knee” that deprived him of his desire to take up the field wearing the white, he had said. Malinga is representing the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.
Law expressed his disappointment over his non-willingness to play the longer format but said that one can’t force a guy who goes through hell every time he bowls a cricket ball. He also said he would love to see him play every game for them but that seems quite impossible for anyone playing cricket these days.
There are also a lot of confusions prevailing over Tillakaratne Dilshan’s release date as the tour of England and the second half of the IPL games overlap. Dilshan along with Mahela Jayawardane and Kumar Sangakkara are the other two prominent Sri Lankans who are part of the IPL. The Indian board and the Sri Lankan are negotiating on this issue.
The financial incentive of the IPL was a major temptation for players, Law said. He also said that one wants the best for their players and the best Sri Lanka can supply to the players at this stage is nowhere near what other international players are getting.
Sangakkara and Jayawardane stepped down from the captain role after Sri Lanka finished runners-up in the 2011 World Cup. Sri Lanka have undergone a change in leadership as Dilshan has been named the new captain, following the resignation of the captain and vice-captain respectively, and Law has taken over from Trevor Bayliss, who he worked with as assistant coach. Law said that the Sri Lankan cricket is going through a rebuilding phase now.
Tags: Cricket, Indian Premier League, IPL, Lasith Malinga, Mumbai Indians, Stuart Law, Test Cricket
