After being officially recognized as an appointed consultant coach by the cricket board on January 18, former South Africa cricketer Jonty Rhodes has denied any affiliation with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).According to a statement from the SLC, Jonty Rhodes was hired as a coach with former physiotherapist Alex Kountouri of the Sri Lanka National Team and former India bowling coach Bharat Arun. In a brief statement, the regulatory body stressed the significance of these appointments and stated that they are “for the advancement of the game in the country.”
The press release stated, “Sri Lanka Cricket decided to hire some of the biggest names in cricket to conduct periodic training programs in specific areas to provide advanced training for local coaches, trainers, and physiotherapists to enhance their skills and competencies.”
The statement continued, “To this end, the Executive Committee resolved to hire veteran fielding coach Jonty Rhodes of South Africa, former fast bowling coach Bharat Arun of the Indian national team, and former physiotherapist Alex Kountouri of the Sri Lanka national team.”
Rhodes stressed, meanwhile, that he has not inked a contract with Sri Lanka Cricket a day after the formal announcement. The 54-year-old is now a member of the SA20’s Durban Super Giants and the Indian Premier League’s Lucknow Super Giants.
Hmmmm @ThePapareSports this is news to me #checkyourfacts https://t.co/Ok0kwLsJe4
— Jonty Rhodes (@JontyRhodes8) January 19, 2024
Interestingly, Rhodes spent ten days coaching Sri Lanka’s fielding squad during their 2015 series against Pakistan. He later played for the Mumbai Indians and, subsequently, the Punjab Kings in a similar capacity.
Following Sri Lanka Cricket’s formal announcement, Bharat Arun has not yet responded. He was a member of the support team when India won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2021, and he was instrumental in the growth of Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, among many others. At the moment, he serves as the IPL’s bowling coach for the Kolkata Knight Riders.
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