Keeping the upcoming Wolrd Cup in mind, struggling Sri Lanka appointed former Australian cricketer Steve Rixon as their fielding coach on Saturday. The 64-year-old will join the side later this month in the New Zeland tour where the Lankans are scheduled to play two Tests, three one-day internationals and one Twenty20.
Sri Lanka cricket CEO Ashley de Silva confirmed the development and said, “We are happy to welcome Steve into the team. I am sure he will be able to help the team moving forward, with his expertise in the area of fielding which is a vital component of the game.”
De Silva said Rixon will work with the national team until the end of the 2019 World Cup.
Sri Lanka have been struggling for form recently, losing the home ODI and Test series to England. They have also been hit by crisis off the field.
Bowling coach Nuwan Zoysa was suspended by the International Cricket Council in October after he was accused of match-fixing and other “corrupt conduct”.
Earlier that month, ex-chief selector and former captain Sanath Jayasuriya was charged for failing to cooperate with a match-fixing probe and concealing information.
The country recently sought help from neighbouring India to draft laws to combat cheating in the game.