Simsek is Sri Lanka's new physio

Tommy Simsek, a Melbourne-based physiotherapist, is due to arrive tomorrow to take up an appointment as physio of the Sri Lankan cricket team. Duleep Mendis, the chief executive of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), said that Simsek is a highly qualified physio and that he had been recommended by Alex Kountouri, the former team physio.

Mendis said Simsek's contract will run from August 17 till the 2007 World Cup in West Indies. Tryphone Mirando, secretary of the SLC interim committee, said that the national team did not have a full-time qualified physio since Paul Klarenaar left them after the Australian tour in July last year. He said that CJ Clarke undertook the dual role of trainer cum physio of the national team until such time a suitable physio was found.

A spate of injuries to the national team players recently forced the SLC interim committee to seek the services of Kountouri once again even though it was only for a short period. Kountouri, who was on holiday in Sri Lanka, reviewed the cause of the injuries to the national team players and subsequently recommended Simsek.

During Kountouri's eight-year period as physio the Sri Lanka team rode a wave, winning the World Cup in 1996, and followed it up with nine consecutive Test victories in 2001-02, feats which hold a niche in the country's cricket history.

Clarke would concentrate on Sri Lanka's physical training play after Simsek takes over officially, but will also assist with physiotherapy. Clarke has been with the Sri Lanka senior and A teams since the 2003 World Cup, when Kountouri decided to return home.

Sri Lanka's next international engagement is at the end of the month when Bangladesh arrives for a series of two Tests and three one-day internationals.