Sri Lankan Cricket Coach Dies After Clash With Players in Colombo

A 62-year-old Sri Lankan cricket coach, Sumith Fernando, died in hospital on Tuesday following an alleged clash with players during a match in Colombo on August 8. The incident began over a dispute regarding drinking water at the training ground. Police arrested a 17-year-old school cricketer in connection with the clash and produced him before a Colombo court, where he was sent to child probation custody until August 17.

Fernando had coached at Prince of Wales College in Moratuwa and was instrumental in training Sri Lanka's ODI captain Kusal Mendis during his school years. He later served as curator at Bloomfield Cricket & Athletic Club, which competes in Sri Lanka's top first-class cricket competition. His funeral was held on Thursday.