Chandika Hathurusingha, Sri Lanka’s new coach who will take charge at the end of the ongoing tour of India, said he scented opportunity for the team despite a string of humiliating defeats.

“Listening to president and the sports minister and thinking of all the expectations, there’s no pressure for me. This is all opportunities,” said the 49-year-old former Test batsman, who was officially named for the post on December 8, on Wednesday (December 20).

“Looking from outside, looking at our team, I thought it’s a great opportunity for me to come here and maximise the potential in the Sri Lanka team that I see from outside. I am looking forward to that challenge and I take that challenge as a very good opportunity to take the team forward.”

Hathurusingha, who called the appointment a “great honour” and thanked Sri Lanka Cricket for giving him the “great opportunity”, also said he would streamline the selection process which he believed could revive the sagging fortunes of the team.

Sri Lanka this year have turned in their worst performance since 1987. Out of a total of 29 One-Day Internationals, they won only five while losing 23. In Tests, they lost eight matches including a 3-0 drubbing at home at the hands of India, the No. 1 Test team. During their continuing tour of India, Sri Lanka lost a three-match Test series 1-0 and the subsequent ODIs 2-1.

Sri Lanka travel next to Bangladesh for a tri-series also involving Zimbabwe, followed by a two-Test rubber with the home side.

Hathurusingha resigned as Bangladesh’s coach in October after three years in charge during which he guided the team through their most successful period, masterminding Test wins over England and Australia at home and Sri Lanka away.

His contract with the Bangladesh Cricket Board made him one of the world’s highest-paid cricket coaches on US$ 40,000 a month, and was due to run until World Cup 2019. But he opted out after a poor tour of South Africa recently where Bangladesh lost all the matches they played.

The Sri Lanka coach’s post had been vacant since Graham Ford quit in June. Nic Pothas, the fielding coach under Ford, was asked to fill the position in the interim and has continued to do the job in India.

Wisden India

-Agencies