Cricket board to appoint full-time team manager

The Sri Lankan cricket board (BCCSL) advertised on Sunday for a full-time cricket team manager and umpires manager in the national newspapers.

Traditionally, the team manager's post has been a part-time position with appointments made on a tour-by-tour basis by the executive committee without a formal recruitment process.

The decision to recruit a dedicated full-time manager is overdue recognition of the need for greater off-field support for the players, both during and in-between tours.

The current contract with Air Commodore Ajit Jayasekera expires after the Zimbabwe Test series, but he may still apply for the post starting in February.

The appointment will be for a three-year period and the advert states that the candidates must have held a management position, have an aptitude for public speaking, be computer literate and aged below 55. Cricket experience, it adds, would be an advantage.

The BCCSL are also looking to replace the current director of umpires, K.T. Francis, who has held the post for three years and is keen to continue, but has been asked to retire.

A younger man, under 55 years old, with first-class umpiring and corporate management experience, computer literacy and workshop management skills, is being sought.

But the post, which requires highly specialized skills, will be extremely hard to fill if the BCCSL sticks rigidly to the credentials advertised.

Interested candidates for both posts are requested to submit applications to the cricket board headquarters by 31 December.