BCB sent me the contract for bowling coach role but then no one called: Chaminda Vaas

Former legendary fast bowler Chaminda Vaas who was in contention to become Bangladesh’s bowling coach before Courtney Walsh took over said that despite their CEO sending the contract, no one called him. The Sri Lankan U-19 coach was present during the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Board President’s XI warm-up match at the Colombo Cricket Club yesterday.

Vaas who has a good rapport with the Bangladesh boys was a likely candidate to take up the role of Bangladesh’s bowling coach in May 2016 but later it was handed over to former Caribbean legend Courtney Walsh. As the fast bowler paused for a while during the warm-up match, a Bangladesh reporter asked him what happened to the talks he had with the Bangladesh Cricket Board for taking up the coaching role.

Vaas wasn’t too pleased and said, “Your CEO sent me the contract, but then no one called.” The Bangladesh Cricket Board did not gave a formal reply to Vaas’ statement saying that contract settlement is a confidential matter and should not be out in public. Arguably the greatest new-ball bowler Sri Lanka has produced, Vaas was one of the vital members of the Sri Lankan team during his playing days and led his nation to many memorable triumphs.

He could swing the ball both ways and also had the ability to bowl well-disguised slower deliveries to bamboozle the batsman. He outbowled the Kiwis in a Test in Napier way back in 1994 and handed Sri Lanka their first overseas victory. He also holds the record for the best figures by a bowler in ODI cricket. His 8/19 against Zimbabwe way back in 2001 still remains the best bowling figures in limited-overs cricket. It also included a hat trick.

The left-arm seamer took his 2nd hat trick in the first 3 deliveries of a World Cup clash against Bangladesh in 2003 and also led his nation to the semi-final of the tournament. He hung his boots in 2009 after playing 111 Tests, 322 ODI’s and 6 T20I’s. He was also a handy lower order batsman who had the ability to play some lusty blows.