COLOMBO: Sri Lanka head coach Graham Ford has confirmed he will leave his post when his contract expires in January, despite being pressed to reconsider by the island nation’s cricket authorities.
“The national coach has indicated...his unavailability to continue after his contract expires in January 2014,” Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement.
“Ford has taken this decision consequent to the discussions he had with his family on the options given by SLC.”
South African Ford, who was appointed when Australian coach Geoff Marsh was sacked in January 2012, had told Sri Lanka last week that he did not want to renew his contract because of family commitments but officials asked him to reconsider.
His final series with Sri Lanka will be against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in December, when they play three Tests, five one-dayers and two Twenty20 games.
Ford, who has been linked to the vacant coaching position at English county side Surrey, led Sri Lanka to the final of the Twenty20 World Cup where they lost against the West Indies, aswell as a Test series victory against Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Glamorgan have signed South Africa left-hander Jacques Rudolph as their overseas player in the English County Championship for the next two years, replacing Australian Marcus North.
The 32-year-old Rudolph has been a proven performer in county cricket, chiefly with Yorkshire between 2007-11, where he scored 5,429 first-class runs at an average of 52.20.
He also had a brief stint with Surrey last year.
“I enjoyed my time playing for Yorkshire, so I’m looking forward to the challenge at Glamorgan and hopefully enjoying similar success,” Rudolph said in a statement that was released by the county club yesterday.
He will play for second division Glamorgan in the 2014 and 2015 county seasons, pending clearance from Cricket South Africa.
Rudolph played the last of his 48 Test matches for the Proteas against Australia in November 2012.
He is currently participating in the Champions League Twenty20 competition with his South African franchise, the Titans. AGENCIES
