Rumesh Ratnayake appointed Sri Lanka interim coach with Chandika Hathurusingha's future unclear

The former fast bowler has taken charge of the side as the Sri Lanka board continue to consider Hathurusingha's future

Rumesh Ratnayake has been appointed the interim coach of Sri Lanka ahead of their home Test series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed on Wednesday.

The former fast bowler has taken charge of the side as the Sri Lanka board continue to consider Chandika Hathurusingha's future, whose involvement with the side is yet to be clarified.

Hathurusingha was appointed in December 2017 but has been criticised recently for the team's poor recent performances, including in the World Cup in which Sri Lanka were knocked out in the group stage.

"We've been watching the coach's performance for over a year-and-a-half. Based on that we've taken this decision," SLC President Shammi Silva told reporters.

"I was also in the board that recruited Hathurusingha, and we've made some mistakes. But if we are to do right by cricket in (the) future, we have to correct those mistakes."

Silva, who refused to explain the issues with the coach because it is a "legal matter", also said Hathurusingha had been sent an explanatory letter which requires his response.

Hathurusingha confirmed to ESPNCricinfo that he had received the letter, but said: "As far as I'm concerned, my contract with SLC is still there. The letter doesn't say anything about termination of contract or anything like that."

Sri Lanka also named their 22-man squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand on Wednesday, which saw Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews recalled.

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