Former Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara has reportedly become a candidate along with two other ex-players after being identified by the ECB in a call in for the head coach role of the England white-ball team.
The others in the fray are former Australia left-hander Michael Hussey and Afghanistan head coach and former England international Jonathan Trott but, it is said that the ECB has motivated favourably towards the Lankan batting great.
Hence the England cricket team could be preparing an IPL gathering as they aim to shake things up in the coaching department.
With present white-ball head coach Matthew Mott due to depart next week, England are looking to add another star name to their coaching unit.
Regardless of a disappointing 2023 ODI World Cup, and failing to reach the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, England are reportedly set to stick with Jos Buttler as captain.
Though, Buttler’s boss at Rajasthan Royals, Kumar Sangakkara, is a leading candidate for the head coach role.
As per a report by The Telegraph UK, the ex-Sri Lanka batter could be one of the favourites to replace Mott in charge of England’s white-ball outfits.
Sangakkara has been the Director of Cricket for Rajasthan Royals since January 2021, a period in which the permit has even reached the IPL final.
Buttler has grown into a essential player under Sangakkara’s directorship at the Royals, and could form a familiar bond with him at the helm of the England cricket team if appointed to the post.
Trott has previously led Afghanistan to many highs in his one-and-a-half-year tenure as head coach, including sixth place in the 2023 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup and the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semis.
On the other hand, Hussey is by now familiar with the English dressing room, having previously served as their batting coach between 2022 and 2023.