Chandika Hathurusinghe Signs For Adelaide Side (4 Oct 1996)

4 October 1996

Disillusioned Chandika signs for Adelaide side

By SA`ADI THAWFEEQ

Sri Lanka and Tamil Union opening batsman Chandika Hathurusingha will captain Adelaide district side, Elizabeth CC, during the forthcoming domestic Australian cricket season.

Apart from leading the team, Hathurusingha will also have the added responsibility of being the club`s assistant coach.

Australian players Greg Blewett, Darren Lehmann and Jason Gillespie are some of the well known cricketers who will be playing in the same district as Hathurusingha.

The durable right-hander, who represented his country in 24 Tests went ahead and signed for the club after he was overlooked for the short series of two tests against Zimbabwe and was subsequently left out of the 20-member Sri Lanka `A` pool preparing to meet West Indies `A` later this month.

He has been a heavy scorer in domestic cricket, but for some reason or another has fallen out of favour with the national selectors.

Despite these setbacks, Hathurusingha (28) has not abandoned hopes of playing for his country in the future.

"My contract with the club will allow me to be released any time if I am asked to represent my country. I am informing the chairman of selectors that I am always available to play for Sri Lanka when they need me,`` said Hathurusingha, scorer of 1251 Test runs for an average of 30.65 with eight fifties.

Hathurusingha has also taken 16 wickets in the longer game at a cost of 41.75 runs apiece, bowling at right-arm medium-pace and, also represented his country in 32 one-day internationals scoring 648 runs and taking 14 wickets.

He is due to take up his contract with the Australian club next week and expected to play out the full season till March.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)