Former cricket coach of Kusal Mendis dies after player altercation in Sri Lanka

Sumith Fernando, the 62-year-old coach, who once mentored former Sri Lanka cricket captain Kusal Mendis died due to an altercation with players during a cricket match in Colombo. Fernando helped train Kusal during his schooldays.

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, August 12 while receiving treatment.

Colombo Police said on Thursday, August 13 that a 17-year-old school player was arrested on Monday, August 10 on suspicion of assaulting Fernando. The accused was produced before a Colombo court on Tuesday, August 11 and will be under child probation custody till August 17.

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, August 13.