Learn about the tragic death of veteran Sri Lankan cricket coach Sumith Fernando, a mentor to Kusal Mendis, following an on-field altercation with school players in Colombo.
Key Points
- Veteran cricket coach Sumith Fernando died in Colombo after an altercation with school players during a match.
- The dispute, which occurred on August 8, reportedly stemmed from an argument over drinking water.
- Fernando was a former coach at Prince of Wales College and mentored national ODI captain Kusal Mendis during his schooldays.
- A 17-year-old school player has been arrested and placed under child probation custody in connection with the incident.
- Fernando also served as curator for Bloomfield Cricket & Athletic Club, a club in Sri Lanka's first-class competition.
A 62-year-old coach, who once mentored former Sri Lanka cricket captain Kusal Mendis in his schooldays, has died due to an altercation with players during a cricket match in Colombo.
Police said Thursday, a 17-year-old school player was arrested on Monday on suspicion of assaulting Sumith Fernando and was put under child probation custody till August 17 after he was produced before a Colombo court on Tuesday.
Details Of The Tragic Incident
A dispute over drinking water had led to the altercation involving two players on August 8, following which Fernando was taken to a hospital, where he died on Tuesday while receiving treatment.
Fernando was a former coach of Prince of Wales College in the Colombo suburb of Moratuwa. Among others under his tutelage were national ODI captain Mendis as a schoolboy cricketer and many other top school level cricketers. He was also later the curator of the Bloomfield Cricket & Athletic Club, a club in the island's first class competition. Fernando's funeral took place on Thursday.
