Hong Kong turn to ex-Sri Lanka Test player Kaushal Silva after trio of Malaysia thrashings
The 39-year-old will take charge of an underperforming team who were easily beaten by Malaysia three times in eight days in Singapore this month
Former Sri Lanka wicketkeeper batsman Kaushal Silva has been appointed as the new head coach of Hong Kong’s cricket team, the sport’s governing body in the city said on Monday.
The 39-year-old, who played 39 Tests and scored three hundreds between 2011 and 2018, is expected to start his new job sometime next month, once his visa has come through.
After a short coaching stint in England, Silva has been working in Australia since 2019, most recently at the Superkings Cricket Academy, but will now make the step up to associate cricket as Simon Willis’ replacement.
Silva said he was excited at the prospect of coaching the team and “looked forward to working with the talented group of players”.
His first significant challenge, other than improving an underperforming side, will be the Asia Cup, which will return to its T20 format and be held in the United Arab Emirates from September 9th to September 28th.
While India and Pakistan have been thrown together alongside the hosts and Oman in Group A, Hong Kong face Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in Group B. The top two sides in each group will progress to the semi-finals.