Ramanayake to seek out young talents from around Bangladesh

The Tigers were having a practice match with the coaching staff keeping a close eye from near the dressing room when another appeared among them.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board made Champaka Ramanayake’s appointment public a few days ago.

A warm welcome was waiting for him at Mirpur’s Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Head Coach Chandika Hathurusingha greeted his compatriot with an embrace, pace bowling mentor Courtney Walsh extended his hand before trainer Mario Villavarayan darted in for a hug.

The former Sri Lanka pacer was the first bowling mentor for the men in green and red, but his role is a bit different this time around.

“It is high performance fast bowling coach for the emerging players. My role is to develop them for the national team,” he said at a media briefing.

“The last time I started in the Academy for a few months and then I was upgraded to the national team. This time I am going to work with the youngsters, probably with the drop-off from the national or A team players.”

His first stint with the national team went well. The board was keen to sign a new deal but with Ramanayke asking for a raise after the successful spell, the parties could not come to an agreement. Hence, he returned home in 2010.

Since then, his reputation as a bowling coach has grown. A few days ago, senior national cricketers urged the board to get in touch with Ramanayke, who was then serving as the bowling coach of Sri Lanka.

The move paid off and the BCB met the needs to get his service. On the flip side, he will have the huge burden of expectations and he knows that.

In fact, he has already drawn up a plan for his job.

“It is a lot different than 2008 to 2010. We have got more players now. I am looking forward to working with a lot of new excited talented guys. It is my duty to find out and upgrade them to the next level,” Ramanayake said.

“The coaching will be the same but maybe I will look into the youngsters who have never been seen before. I am thinking of going around the country to find raw talent.

“Definitely there is talent, because cricket is big in this country. There should be a lot of players with natural talent, so I am looking forward to finding them,” he added.

Pacer Rubel Hossain came through thanks to Ramanayake who takes satisfaction watching the right-arm fast bowler’s rise.

Speaking about his philosophy, Ramanayake stressed the value of keeping the natural instincts intact.

“You shouldn’t make too many changes to natural ability. That’s my philosophy. In Sri Lanka, we produced a lot of freaks from nowhere because of their natural talent,” he said.

“Sometime people try to change too many things and then you lose the natural ability. Everyone is different in this world, so you have to treat them differently.

“Actions are different so as long as they produce results and are effective, that’s the main thing.”

In Bangladesh on a two-year contract with the BCB, his main focus will be to draw out young talents but when needed, he will also be working with the national team pacers alongside their mentor Walsh.

“He [Walsh] is a genius. He is a player from my time. He is a lovely man. I am looking forward to working with him.”

It means fans, much to their delight, can expect to see Bangladesh’s pace attack grow in talent and have a bigger impact on matches.