Sri Lankan manager's contract not to be renewed

Sri Lanka's manager Chandra Shaffter has been told by the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL) that his contract will not be renewed after the current tour of England.

Anura Tennekoon, the BCCSL's chief executive, broke the news to Shaffter during a telephone conversation before the start of the third days play at Old Trafford.

PA News Agency claimed that the decision to end his contract followed a complaint from the new chairman of selectors, Guy de Alwis, to the BCCSL that he had been denied entry to the dressing room during the Second npower Test at Birmingham.

It's an allegation that's flatly denied by Shaffter: "Guy de Alwis never requested access to the dressing room, so how could I possibly deny it?"

Shaffter, 72, was controversially appointed days before the Asian Test Championship final in March, replacing Air Commodore Ajit Jayasekera, who is now a member of the interim committee that runs the BCCSL.

He was given a short-term contract that included a Sharjah triangular series in April and Sri Lanka's tour of England.

Jayasekera is considered the favourite candidate to replace Shaffter.