Watch: Veteran Sri Lankan cricket coach dies after altercation with cricketers ahead of IND vs SL 1st Test

Veteran Sri Lankan cricket coach Sumith Fernando has died at the age of 62 after suffering injuries in an altercation at the Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club in Colombo. The incident reportedly took place on August 8.

Fernando was taken to a hospital for treatment after the incident but died on Tuesday, August 11. He had spent several years coaching young cricketers and was known for helping develop players for Sri Lankan cricket.

Fernando had also coached current Sri Lanka ODI captain Kusal Mendis during his school days. The incident has left the Sri Lankan cricket community shocked. 

Watch the viral altercation video here.

Sumith Fernando, coach of Kusal Mendis, passes away days before the India Series

Sumith Fernando, who coached several young cricketers at Prince of Wales’ College in Moratuwa, passed away days before the India vs Sri Lanka Test series. He was also among the coaches who helped develop Sri Lanka ODI captain Kusal Mendis.

According to PTI, the incident reportedly began when a group of young cricketers went looking for drinking water while training at the sports facility. They found that there was no running water, which led to a disagreement with the stadium staff. Fernando tried to intervene as the situation became tense.

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Police said the disagreement later turned into a physical confrontation involving two players. A 17-year-old school cricketer was allegedly involved in the incident that left Fernando injured. He was taken to Colombo National Hospital and remained under treatment until his death on Tuesday.

17-year-old player arrested over altercation that led to coach's death

Police arrested a 17-year-old player on Monday on suspicion of assaulting veteran coach Sumith Fernando. The arrest came after an altercation in which Fernando suffered injuries.

As the accused is a minor, he was placed under child probation custody after appearing before a Colombo court on Tuesday. His custody has reportedly been extended until August 17 as police continue to investigate the incident.

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Fernando’s death has ended a long career dedicated to developing young cricketers in Sri Lanka. His work as a coach and mentor, including his association with players such as Kusal Mendis, made him an important figure in grassroots cricket.

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