Success Redefined - It’s More Than Just Winning the Game - Chandika Hathurusinghe

In this episode of The Quest for Success Podcast, we are joined by Chandika Hathurusinghe, former Sri Lankan cricketer and current head coach of the Bangladesh men’s cricket team. Chandika shares his incredible journey from player to coach, offering insights into the key characteristics that have driven his success.

Discover how Chandika’s passion for cricket, the support of his parents, and his determination to seize every opportunity shaped his career. He recalls memorable moments, such as his first test match and winning the prestigious Man of the Match award against Australia. Chandika also reveals his admiration for Imran Khan, both as a cricketer and a leader, and how those qualities have inspired his own leadership style.

Chandika discusses the critical role of a head coach, the challenges of coaching across different countries, and the importance of measuring success not solely by victories, but by maximising individual resources and performance. His story is a powerful reminder that passion, hard work, self-belief, and constant self-improvement are the true foundations of success.

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Transcript

Dylan Pathirana (00:00.65)
One of Sri Lanka's cricketing greats and current head coach of the Bangladeshi men's cricket team. Please welcome to the show Chandika Hathurusingha. Make use of every opportunity you get. I didn't have my own back on that. I actually borrowed from school. It's been one day I got out twice. Not and not. I thought it's my career finish again. But luckily...

If you want to be the best, you have to be different. And he said, you don't know how good you can be. Even talking about it now, it's a lump like coming to my throat.

Dylan Pathirana (00:55.126)
All right, welcome back to the quest for success podcast and thanks for tuning in once again. Over the past few months, we have had the opportunity to talk to some fantastic guests. We've had a lot of entrepreneurs on we've had an author, we've had some world travelers, we've had a chef. And so today we thought we'd bring a completely different perspective. And so that's why today on the podcast, have Chandika Hathurusingha, who is the head coach of the national Bangladeshi men's cricket team.

And so we thought it'd be a fantastic podcast because we know that you have a wonderful story and we just want to unpack a bit of that. So thank you so much for joining us today. Yeah, welcome. Thanks for having me. Chandika, it's nice to have you here. So just to give you a bit of an introduction, my introduction to Chandika. Chandika and I went to same school, high school. We studied together, even though we were not very close friends. We actually got close.

when we met in Australia, Chandika said, you look familiar. And I said, yeah, I went to same school, right? So then, you know, that's how we kind of met. And then since then, you know, we caught up quite regularly and catch up with the families. And so that's kind of refresh our friendship, I guess, you know. So one reason, I guess, we were not that close in school days.

because he was way, way famous than me at school because he played for Sri Lanka. He represent Sri Lanka cricket. mean, as you know, cricket is like a religion in Sri Lanka. So he was playing for cricket for Sri Lanka team in very young age. And so he was well known in the, in the school. was playing for school cricket national team. But we are here to do kind of a

unpacked that story and understand your journey Chandika. Thank you for being here. Yeah, now, I'll tell you this true story because he was more studious than me and he was in the math section and I was in the commerce section. was pretend to be studious. It's too far away for us to interact most of the time, but we knew each other in school days as well. So anyway, it's good to catch up again. Yeah. Awesome. And so Chandika, I want to start this conversation.

Dylan Pathirana (03:21.09)
by really setting the ground rules here. And I want to understand what success means to you.

Well, yes, for me, when I was like driving here, thinking about because we hardly think about that question. We always like move on to another one, like we achieve something and go into another one. And especially in my my my area, like sports. So when you look at as a whole, like what's the success mean to you? I thought it's like in my case.

to what I have to give up to achieve it. I can measure my success. I have to give up a lot of things to achieve what I have achieved. So when you look back, I think that's the success mean to me, like what you have to give up in order to achieve success. Wow, that's quite interesting kind of something new that we heard, right? Yeah, I can explain to you. Absolutely. What I mean is that...

Yeah, I mean, if you start now, I had to give up my roots to come here and establish myself as a coach. then when I was in Sri Lanka, of course, I was successful. I was coach in Sri Lanka as a batting coach and I was a shadow coach to take over from the head coach at that time after the World Cup. But things didn't work out the way I was planning.

I had to leave my country. At the same time, I had the similar thing when I look back, I had to give up a lot of things to become a national club player as well. as you know, I didn't play for my school first level at the start. So there's a lot of things we can discuss. absolutely Chandika, this is the reason we are here. So I guess...

Dylan Pathirana (05:28.04)
We want to take you back to where you began, right? I wanted to understand a little bit more of your background. We talk very, you know, casually about your background, but I don't really know much about your background. Are you coming from a cricket family? How do you get these skills? I mean, playing for a national level, you've got to have some kind of a...

natural talents, right? We just want to understand from a young kid to playing for your country. What's the story behind it? Yeah, I'll answer your question. I'm not coming from a cricketing family or any of my family. I don't think played any cricket and my but my father and my mother, they both from rural background and they were from

I don't know whether you know a place called Kirindiwala in Gampad district. So they both from same area, they are neighbors and both came to Colombo look for success in their careers because my father was in the army. He's the first one from his family to come away from farming background. They are their farmers. are forefathers.

grandfather and they had their paddy fields and all that. They never came to Colombo. So they all stayed there and become farmers because their parents are farmers. But from those two families, my mother and my father, the first people to come to Colombo away from the village was my mother and my father. When they got married, they both came because they were, my mother was a nurse.

at Lady Ridgeway Hospital and my father was in the army as a soldier. So they came to Colombo to start their life and I think they, so again, they have to give up their roots to look for success. So that's the reason I was born in Colombo. And then when you're growing up, those days in Sri Lanka, we play street cricket.

Dylan Pathirana (07:48.902)
as every kid, it's just beautiful days and we have so much freedom to play and time and the area like open field to play cricket. So we played on paddy fields and straight cricket. And that's how I got into cricket when I was like nine years old, eight years old. How did you discover that you had a real talent? the first memory is that I felt that someone is

one of those, we call it New Year's festival, you play cricket in that village with another village. And I become the best player or the man of the tournament or something. How old were then? I was, I think, 11. And I played with men. So I realized maybe I have some kind of talent. So then I remember I was going to a school called Velluvana College and they started...

cricket team in that school. They never had one and they were starting and my father came one day when I was in school asked me, can I put your name into the school cricket team? I said yes, put it. So that was that after that, those everything and when I was 11 kind of thing, I started started playing what you call the leather ball cricket. Okay. So your father probably saw this something in you and he thought, just for the

you know, my son wants to do some sports. Yeah, I think it's because of the passion. It's again another thing that I will talk about. I mean, I've talked about a lot about anyone wants to have some success in life. They need to have a passion for that particular thing. Because passion is your aim, is not your direction where you want to go. mean, we all like, I mean, lot of my kids even now, they study and then

they want to do that and then suddenly realize, no, that's not what I like. And then they started doing something else. you need to love. Yes, because that's their passion. And if you find that as your carrier, it's wonderful, isn't it? And that's only once you get this life to live. if it's become your work and then if it becomes your day -to -day thing, you're the luckiest person. So that's in a way of success. I'm looking at it. And then I was so lucky to be

Dylan Pathirana (10:17.366)
be playing cricket. That was my passion to play cricket. So you're talking about, your father put your name onto that school team list. Yes. And then you got a call. Yes. Then there was like trials kind of thing. And then they picked a team and, I was the vice captain in that team. Wow. This is because it's a new team. Everybody's the same page. So that's how I started. And then, that school.

Funny enough, it's only up to the grade five at that time. After grade five, you have to go to the middle school, of, yeah, Nalanda. Nalanda, right? So this was Nalanda primary. So my aim was to go into the big school, playing cricket, playing cricket school. Then when I was in grade four, that become big Mahavidyalaya.

college. So what happened then, then I didn't get a chance to go to Anand, I had to study up to grade 10. So once I finished my whole level at grade 10, there's no advanced level in Vellore, so I had to go to another school. So I applied for Anand and Nalanda. And both schools accepted my application, but one school, Anand accepted, gave me a date three days earlier.

than the other school. So I end up going to Ananda. So if you want to talk about Ananda and Alanda, so they are very famous cricketing schools. So Ananda and Alanda produce more international cricket test players than any other school in the country. So I guess you have that passion, right? That's right. think it's, I'm not 100 % sure, but Ananda is the highest.

Ananda produced highest -class cricketers than anywhere in the world, in one school. Wow, wow. That's where all the Ranatunga brothers and all these, yeah, Mavanathapad to Sri Lankan captains came from Ananda. Anyway, so my dream was to get into Ananda anyway. So that's how I ended up at Ananda, mainly because of studies. So mainly studies, not because of your sporting.

Dylan Pathirana (12:43.502)
But at that time, you were known in that age group as one of the top cricketers. Yeah, I did well. I'm under 15, under 17. I did well. But then when you come to Anand, it's so big school, and you're just another player, or another student, because it's so big. And to break into Anand, it's not easy. I remember that, luckily, I had one of my

another friend who was with me in Velluvana and already established in Ananda team. So he's invited me for practices. So I just went to practice but then didn't get anywhere. I played second -level cricket for the whole year. And then luckily for me, I was playing club cricket at the same time for a club called Hamilton Union.

and there was a tour to England in 1986, under 19 or young cricketers, Sri Lankan young cricketers tour to England. There was a trials and then I was nominated by my club because I was playing second level cricket in Sri Anand. School, yeah. I happened to like, I did well in trials. Yeah. And I remember...

very well, I came to school on one of the Mondays because I played Saturday, Sunday trials and came Monday to school. And then in the morning, you know, we remember assembly. It's on loudspeakers because it's so big. School is so big. we had to stay in our areas. So I remember at the end of assembly, announced and also said that

Chandika Hathurusingha at C2 come to principal's office. I thought I've jumped up and down. This is not going well. So because I used to have hair, good hair on my head. I thought, because very strict with those days I am in Sri Lanka, in our school, if your hair is too long, they cut. I had a little bit too long hair. I thought they're going to cut my hair. remember you had a little bit curly kind of hair.

Dylan Pathirana (15:00.27)
So anyway, I thought that's thing. And then I walk into principal's office. Principal was really good gentleman. And he said, come in son. And I can remember master in charge, cricket coaches from 19th first 11 and second 11 sitting outside. And he showed me a paper. I remember called son, English paper. He said, that one says, not for school, but for Sri Lanka.

headline. I was selected to go on that tour. So that's my breakthrough. And that's the only time, first time that I realized that, okay, that's my path. So interesting. So you play, you got selected to play for national before you got selected to play for first grade school team. First 11. Yeah. And on the first 11. Yes. Do you think, you know,

I remember like when we were kids, the cricket used to be what you call prestige game, right? And not just how talented you are, it used to be your social kind of thing also important. I've seen like, people that it's more what matters more like who you know, kind of thing, like more than your talent. Is that something that play a part of it, you think?

I think it's your right certain extent because not only the national level, even in school, because I came from another school and nobody knew me, even if I'm better than the others or good enough, until someone realise or until you get opportunity, your talent can be wasted or unheard of, unnoticed.

Then again, quiz for success, like when you ask for success, I also think success, it depends on how much opportunity you get and how you make use of it. That's the definition of success as well. Because if you don't, sometimes we can't compare somebody else's achievement because he would have got more opportunities to achieve and then we don't have it. But then it doesn't mean that this one is better than my one. It depends on...

Dylan Pathirana (17:29.826)
Yeah. How you look at it. But I remember Chandigarh, you were telling me a story a while back when you came from that junior middle school to our senior school. You had the... They select you to play for second grade, right? And then you play and you played really well. There was a great story. Can you share that story? Yeah, because...

What happened the first game I I'll actually tell you there's a funny story. There was a match against our under 17 team and under 19 team, a school. And friend of mine asked me, I'm not going to come tomorrow's match, he's going with his girlfriend for me to bring my kid.

because then I can play instead of him. So I was supposed to come and score on that day. He said, bring your kit, I'm not coming. I'm going with my girlfriend and you can play. He was vice captain at that time. So he didn't play. So I got to play and then I took seven wickets. That was a practice match. Then two weeks later, we are playing the proper match, second -leaven game. So coaches, everybody thought I'm a bowler. So when I went to the first, second -leaven game, I was...

opening baller but bat number nine. This is against Mathura Senseiwese. There's a famous cricketer who played that game. Sanajay Surya That is cool. So that game, at the of first day, they were 115 or 120 all out and on the second level, 67 for seven. So I was batting five not out. Next day, lunch.

We were 240 for seven. was 120 not out. You came number nine. Number nine. So that was the first. That's the story. The first time they realized that this boy who come from another school, can play cricket. that was my actually breakthrough match. then that was the first game, but they never got to play. Yeah, yeah. Because you are well known. I remember

Dylan Pathirana (19:55.278)
I don't know you. I'm 100 % sure you can't remember. I used to play for a club called Nomads. Just training. And one day, I can't remember the same coach coaching you. You were there. And you bowled me one over. I couldn't even see the ball. Everyone said he's the fastest bowler in our age group. And I was so scared. I was just close my eyes and put my bet.

You were so fast. So everybody knew you as a very fast bowler for that age. That's because I was the same size as now. I grew up. was 17, was the same size and I was bigger than the others. I couldn't bowl faster after that. Being in the second grade team and knowing that you had such exceptional talent.

Did that ever play on your mind? Were you ever annoyed? Not getting opportunity? No. I always knew because whenever I get opportunity, I'll make sure that I will show them. So I was not annoyed. was always looking for opportunities. That's why I told you I went to score that game. So hoping that I get opportunity. And then I went to the second level game. When I get to bat number nine, I make sure that I...

Rather score and be not out. So my motto even now is that make use of every opportunity you get. Everybody called every post is make it a winner or something people say that. And to do that, for me is preparation and self -belief and then like just want so badly that another person,

you don't know how much the other person won badly or not, then you make sure that you really make sure that that's, you make that opportunity count because the trials, whenever I got a trial game, I'll make sure I do really, really well. So never get annoyed, but then later on, yes, when you look back and then you think, if I get some opportunities, would have been different, but then again, I'm still happy with what I have achieved with.

Dylan Pathirana (22:19.382)
opportunities I got. being so young, and did you feel like there was a lot of pressure on you to perform? No, because one reason my parents never knew cricket, right? This only me wants to play cricket. And what what I really learn, I'm still trying hard not to do to my kids is my parents never put any pressure on me to

like become this person or that person. They just gave me opportunities only to whatever you wanted to do. whatever you wanted to do. They didn't have much. They didn't have much understanding about the game. They didn't have much resources to give me. They only had their time and love. So, whenever I come home,

There's no pressure whether I score runs or not. But later on, when I was playing Sri Lanka, time to time my father used to ask me, why do do that? Why do you do this? Then I used to get annoyed. But yeah, now I didn't feel any pressure to do well, but then I put pressure on myself to make sure that it won't go waste any opportunities I get.

Yeah, So Chandigarh, other question, like you're playing for a very well -known cricketing school, that young age. There were a lot of other cricketers in that group, especially like Ranatunga brothers in the same era and well -known other cricketers. So the competition was so high, right? And how, I mean, didn't that create

pressure to like, you you have to compete with this whole talented group of cricketers to be part of the team, right? The grade one team. Yeah, I felt that I was better than most of them because I was bowling and batting both. And then I was fielding. I was natural. Because the thing is, we grew up

Dylan Pathirana (24:37.61)
in very natural environment like in running on those paddy fields and all that and playing cricket on rough without shoes and all that. For me, I felt that I was like better than like I was I can compete with people compete with them. I always thought that if if if I'm giving getting the opportunity, that's all I need the opportunities. I didn't have much even the

I didn't have my own bat on that tour. I actually borrowed from school bat. We use as a pool bat. then when I didn't have shoes, cricket shoes, proper on that particular tour. And I'll tell you a funny story. When I came back from England that tour, I bought 13 pairs of shoes and different shoes, not cricket, because I don't know why. Yeah.

So that's the first time you went overseas? Yeah, first time I went overseas and first. it was like we have bright light. What do call it? Like I was just starstruck and in England and cold and there. But then that's that's that's your learning, isn't it? Like you just learn so much, learn so much. So continuing with that story, you got called for national team.

to play for under 19 cricket? Under 19, yes. And then they were touring to UK and then you were part of that squad. Yeah, I mean, I think it's... They already selected the team because I was nowhere and because someone really from outside. I think I was not selected to the first 30. But then there was a gentleman from my club.

who was the vice president of the board at that time. He has wrote a letter, I'll tell you this nice story. He has wrote a letter to the selectors at that time. I'll tell you how I got to know this letter as well later on. later was saying, give this boy another chance, at least a trial, he got some talent. So this particular gentleman, he become a secretary of the board.

Dylan Pathirana (27:01.55)
in 1991. I was playing my third Test match at Lodz. He was at Lodz. And I scored some runs. And then after the game, he came and gave me a copy of that letter, which he has wrote in 1986. Wow. He must be so proud for you to play at Lodz. Yeah. So because of that letter only, I got those trials. And again, this is an opportunity.

somebody has to give you opportunities. And I would have been in the bank or somewhere if I get that opportunity. But on that, take us back to that moment when he gave you that letter. How did you feel? Yeah, I think we're even talking about it now with the lump like coming to my throat like I was just like you look back and see wow, some people like trusted you or see something in you.

Those things actually give you lot more confidence, because you sometimes don't know how good you are. You always want to get better. And some people say that this guy is good enough or some of it is good. And then you feel that, you are good, actually. And I use those things now to inspire the other players, my coach, to give them perspective that you're actually

Yeah. Good enough to play this level or you're world class. You can be world class. You are ceiling higher than XYZ. So I use those things because I felt with those little action of other people in my life. Hey, sorry to interrupt. I just had a huge favor to ask you guys. Over 90 % of you who are listening to this episode right now aren't subscribed or aren't following us on your favorite streaming service. So if you could do yourself.

and ask a massive favor, go and click that subscribe or follow button. It means we can grow the show, which means we can get bigger and better guests on for you guys. And with that, back to the episode. So Chandika, you represent Sri Lanka in test cricket. I 26 test matches. Yes. And and 30 plus one day international ODIs. Yes. And

Dylan Pathirana (29:27.17)
Can you remember your very first test match, know, when they, like, you know, take us through calling, getting that invitation or call, whatever, to get to play for Sri Lanka test match? That's also funny story. It's my life, it's almost like accident, everything. I was not to go on that tour. I was not even in the standbys.

Sri Lanka team 1991 went to New Zealand. And I was playing against Australian under 21s, captain by Justin Lange and all these other players, Stuart Law, Greg Bloat, all these players were coming and playing in Sri Lanka. I was playing for Sri Lanka under 21 in Sri Lanka. National team is in New Zealand. And I think first game, first three day of warm up game.

One of the openers got injured. Damika Ranathunga, I think, got injured. So he couldn't participate in the rest of the tour because it is the beginning of the tour. So they want to send him home. There was another story about it, but I'm not going there. So they were trying to send him home. The standby was Atula Samarasikara. There's a player called Atula. He's a very good player. But he didn't play.

turn up for training because I don't know what some reason after he was a team was announced he hasn't turned up for training. So they called me from playing that game. was 70 something not out in that game. We were playing in candy. They asked me to go to New Zealand. On my own, those days there's no New Zealand consulate in Sri Lanka. So I had to fly to Singapore, stay there one day, go to the consulate, get my visa.

fly to New Zealand. Wow. Right. So I was just what, 21? 21. Yeah. So then that's how I, my first introduction or the, you you said, how do you, I got this call to go and replace injured players. you didn't expect to play on a test match. Yeah. So when I went there, there are another two openers. The day I landed, the other guy got injured. Roshan, I think. Roshan Mahanam. So both were sent back.

Dylan Pathirana (31:49.774)
Then I become the de facto, the eye to open now. So I didn't have much time to think about test cricket or anything and then straight into playing. And my first three test matches, I scored 81, 77 and 61. I thought test cricket is easy. Talking about opportunities, taking opportunities, right? That's right. until I find out it's how hard it is after a couple of years.

Two years after that, I got dropped and then it's very hard. Anyway, that's how I, and I ended up my playing my first test. Amazing. looking back over your playing career, are there any highlights that stick out that you can share with us? for me, it's because I'm to be honest, I'm not the most talented cricket, but I make every opportunity count. for me, most of the things are highlights.

To be honest. The playing that first test match and scoring 80 runs, 81 runs in the first test match was still, I remember most of things. And then the other one is I actually won a Man of the Match award against Australia. Wow. In ODI. In Australia? In Kettaram in Sri Lanka. It was...

That's another highlight because of what happened there. I was batting. They batted first. I was open at that time and then I got cramped when I was about 40 something. Those days you had to ask from the captain to get a runner. The captain was Alan Bordy. said, no, you're unfit, So I had to retire hurt. And then we started losing wicket.

And then I had to come last three ball to score nine runs or something to win the game, which I managed to do that. So, and then because I then ended up scoring 50 not out and then I took a couple of wickets as well. So that's another incident like I still remember highlight. And then of course playing a World Cup in 1992 was highlight. Yes, there's.

Dylan Pathirana (34:17.614)
A lot of the thing and then I got dropped a couple of times coming back into the team. Always is a challenge and then it's remember things that in your head. I remember 95. I came back to the team and then went to Pakistan. First two day game.

It's been one day I got out twice, not and not. I thought it's my career finish again. But luckily, they gave me the opportunity to play the test match. And that series, I ended up scoring second highest run scorer for both teams and then established myself again. So that's another highlight because we beat Pakistan in Pakistan for the first time. Yeah, so those are the playing days highlights. Yeah. And...

Throughout your playing career, would have gotten to play with a lot of some, you would have gotten to play with some big names. And I just want to know, are there any that you really looked up to and respected particular traits about them?

Dylan Pathirana (35:30.29)
Hmm.

Dylan Pathirana (35:33.678)
Yeah, there are players that I really look up in a way of their cricketing skill as well as their leadership skills. One is standing out for me is Imran Khan because I met him in 92 and happened to, I spoke with him and the way he, I still remember things, some of the things he told me. I actually got out to him my first ODI. He got my wicket.

And then he gave me another tip also after that. That's nice. Yeah. And then he's one of them. then, of course, because because he's all round and I was a batsman who ball as well. So. Yeah, I think he's the one who stand out for me in as a not only cricket as a person. Do you kind of look up to Imran Khan like you want to because I know you open.

bat for Sri Lanka most of your test career, also open ball as well. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, you reminded me actually. Yeah, it's funny because at that time, I thought when I was playing at the young age, I opened batting and open bowling. So I thought, man, I'm the best all around. I'm good. Yeah, I'm the best all around in the country. that's why I'm opening ball, opening bat.

I'll tell you that's actually the mistake because you cannot be best in the world. I'll tell you why. Because you don't know what the other person is doing. You can only be the best version of yourself. In those days I would try to chase like I wanted to be the in the world. And then what you put so much pressure on you...

do things that you're actually not capable of sometimes.

Dylan Pathirana (37:34.184)
Right. So then you lose yourself in the middle. But if you become best version of yourself, if that's the best in the world, yeah, that's okay. Yeah. And did you see, feel that ego start to creep in as your career progressed? Not progress. It came down, but at the start, yes, because at the start when I was young and then everything I thought like every opportunity, I make it a winner. thought it's easier.

That's why I said like test cricket looks easy for me at the start and then I was doing all these things and you don't know until you find out if somebody's better than you or their game comes in by two when you relax. Yeah. So, so my actually ego is him.

him down. You got humble on him. Yeah. Yeah. So Chandigarh, you mentioned you looked up to Imran Khan like a hero in a way that you want to be like him, sort of, right? Is that right? Not kind of a hero. I was looking up to him like what trait he has, what characteristic he has as a leader. Why people looking up to him?

Because I remember his own teammates never tap on his back. They all were so respectful after taking wickets. So he was treated differently. I remember him coming in a helicopter. We all went in a bus to the ground. Because in Pakistan in early 92, I think 93, we all went to both teams on buses to a place called Multan.

We came on a helicopter and so I was thinking, wow. Anyway, not that one, but he had some kind of like a different aura about him. And then when you speak to him, he's very different and very intelligent. then combined with his cricketing skills and what he has achieved. I was like kind of looking up to him, okay, that's them. I never, even now,

Dylan Pathirana (39:58.838)
learn something that I don't want to be somebody else. I want to be best version of myself. Like even in coaching, that's how I look at things. I'll share something with you all. Like I always tell my team, like if we do what we are doing, we get beaten. If we do what others people are doing, we copy what other people do. We can only be competitive. If you want to be the best, you have to be different.

You have to have an edge over other people. Any walk of life. Now better be different. Yes. Yeah. Yeah. So my question, any players that you in your playing career that you didn't really want to associate with or you didn't want to face or you didn't want to bowl to someone that your rival. OK. In terms of.

Difficulties, you're asking? Yes, I found very difficult phase Alan Donald. He actually got me, got me out and put me my, I mean almost, first time I got dropped after playing against South Africa. I found him very hard to play. And then another player was Wasim Akram. As opening batsman, he's my era, he was one of the best bowlers. I was kind of a...

When I was bowling, I finding very hard to bowl to Sachin Tenduka and Brian Lara. They were very, very good. At the same time, in our team, Asanga Gurusingha. I used to get everybody out, and I couldn't get this guy out. And I was always finding, thinking, why can't I get this guy out? Or anybody else, in matches we play club cricket against each other, we get...

I get used to get other people out. Never got him up. So I get it. Yeah. Yeah. And other than, suppose players, was there anyone who helped you or guided you along your, your journey? Like any mentors? Yes. Yes. I actually had very good mentors in my life, my career. I think everyone needs.

Dylan Pathirana (42:24.11)
people like it can be your friends, can be someone you look up to or older than you. My early coach called Tom Depp, he was my first kind of a proper coach. He instilled a lot of self -belief in me. I'll share with you what he told me once when I was maybe 13. He said, you're like elephant.

I said, what do mean? I thought I'm fat or something. No, I was very fit at that time. Then he said, do you know elephant's eyes are here in front? Elephant doesn't know how big he is. I think he made up or something. And then he gave me another illustration. He said, have you seen when elephant is small, they tied with a small chain, right? Even elephant is big.

we tied with the same chain because elephant doesn't know that he can break because when he's young, he couldn't break that. So he still think he can't break. That's why he's not even pulling it. So he gave me those two things and he said, you don't know how good you can be. like elephant. So that's stuck in my head. So I always think I am good. I can be better. I'm an elephant. Yeah. That's one person. The other one is the same person I talk about that.

secretary at the club. His name is Eskandar Kumar. He was George Stewart chairman and he became I think High Commissioner to Australia, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia recent past. I was lucky enough to associate with him when I was playing for Tamil Union. He was a club secretary and he actually helped me a lot in my upbringing.

And of course my father and my mother, because as I said, my father from the army background, so you get a lot of toughness and discipline, never to back down and keep your head high. If you're doing the right thing, don't worry about anything, that kind of thing. And the mother from being a nurse, a lot of care and love because that's what she does. So I see both at home. Good balance.

Dylan Pathirana (44:47.008)
Yeah, so I can I got those both. What do call the characteristic of the word? So those are the people that they gave my life. So Chandika, that's really nice. Thank you so much for sharing your story. It's interesting. I this I'm sure you have more stories. But, you know, you you mentioned

very first international match, you had to borrow a bat from the club or school pool to play for international cricket. Do you think nowadays the cricketers, they got so much resources, they paid very highly, like, you know, they get paid very well?

Is that beneficiary to them? mean, is that help them to get better cricketers or I mean, all other way around, like, you know, having that support, you know, financial backings, sponsorships, et cetera. You know, it's a different ball game altogether, right? It's not, never used to be a professional sport. I think it's, I don't see anything

right or wrong or different. I think it's that's two different eras we cannot compare. It's nowadays they have so much opportunity, so much information available. So much cricket as well. much cricket and with that they get a lot of rewards if you're good enough. Our time the information is not there. So limited resources, limited opportunities.

the passion for the, the game or passion for playing cricket, if you have that, doesn't matter which era you are, you will make it. Yeah. The guys who sometime we think who not going to make it, is because they lack something either. don't have the passion or the grit or the work ethic. So you, we've talked a lot about your, your playing career. I want to understand the transition.

Dylan Pathirana (47:09.838)
to coaching? Yes. What happened in 99 after the World Cup, I went as a player, didn't get to play a single game, got dropped. So my next aim was now, how do I play at next World Cup, 2003, right? But at same time, I had really disappointing, getting

not get opportunity to play. So I left the country. 2000. I went to Australia first time to come and play Club Cold Pranayan in Melbourne. So when I was playing, I thought, OK, what do I do now? I don't know anything else. I played all cricket all my life. Yeah. Then I got the opportunity to do my level two coaching. You know, I was there. One gentleman I played against, he was working for Victoria as a development officer. So he said,

We are doing a level two coaching course on such a such a day. Would you like to do? I said yes. So I put my hands up and at that time, just after the 2000 Sydney Olympic. So the level two coaching course was very thorough on 10 days. Anyway, so I did that. Then when I was there, Sri Lanka Cricket asked me to come back to Sri Lanka again. So I went back. To play? To play? Yes, they asked me to come back.

to Sri Lanka and play. So I played 2000 to 2003. All three years, 2001, 2002, three years, I was a player of the tournament in Sri Lanka. So I did everything what I can do within myself. Didn't get a single chance. And then 2003, they announced the World Cup squad. I went like a balloon, I was not there.

Because I did my coaching courses before, I was coaching my club as a club coach, as a player. So I was player coach at that time from 2002. then 2002, actually, before that announcement, there was a tour to Namibia with Sri Lanka A. I was to captain and go. Suddenly, was the head coach who was supposed to take that tour resigned.

Dylan Pathirana (49:37.262)
They said, for me to coach and go. I said, play a coach? No, no, no, no, you can't play. You go as a coach. So then I asked the board at that time, the selectors, so that you're effectively saying that my cricketing career finished. No, no, we are not saying. I said, what? Anyway, so that's the opportunity I got first time to coach. So I was Sri Lanka A coach 2002 while playing. Then it came back. The board has changed.

those people said that now we don't have any understanding about your coaching, you have to play. So I played again. so that's another thing that happened in my life, right? This is 2002. Then 2003, when they select the World Cup squad, I knew that my playing days are finished. So 2003 and four, I went to England to play cricket. And while I was playing, play a coach in a club cricket. I did my level three UK.

certificate. I had the intention to become a coach. then 2005, I retired. Officially retired? Yes. When I retired, board at that time, for some reason asked me to become a match referee. One day they called me and said, there's a match referee opportunity to do a match referee for Hong Kong versus UAE game.

to go to Hong Kong. I said, I don't know. Anyway, I did a crash course with at that time the ICC match referee Ranjan Madhugala. was good enough to give me help two hours over a coffee. May I explain what match referee is? So anyway, I did match referee for six months. Didn't like it. I stopped. And then one day I came to handle one of the match referee report. And then at that time, CEO asked me, I forget about you. There was opportunity to go to UAE. They are looking for a coach. I said,

How much they paying? That's my question. Anyway, then I went as first time as a coach to UA. I coach UA, I signed a contract two years. I coach them for 10 months. Then Sri Lanka Cricket called me to take over Sri Lanka Haiti in 2006. So that's how I get into coaching. So I was Sri Lanka UA coach.

Dylan Pathirana (52:02.478)
Sri Lanka, coach 2002, 2005 become UA coach. Then I came back to Sri Lanka as a Sri Lanka A coach from 2006 to 2008. And 2008, they promoted me as a Sri Lanka batting coach with the national team until I got sacked for the first time. When I say first time, we got sacked again later on. Yeah, we want to talk about that. But I'm sure during your coaching career.

You coach so many amazing, talented players. Anyone particularly come to your mind? mean, I'm happy to for you to share many, but anyone particular? Yeah, I mean, I was fortunate enough to be involved in many great players, carriers, I would say as a coach and I was a mentor and all that. So they were about how many? One or two?

three world number one players in batting and a few bowlers as well in Australia and in Sri Lanka. So yeah, there are a lot of good players. I don't want to mention names, then this would look like dropping names because all these best players, I'm fortunate enough to be coached them or mentor them. Yeah, but I know, I mean, for our audience, it's nice to share some of the memories.

I mentioned if that's okay with you, we can share like you when you were at club captain and coach time, you played with Mutthaya Murali there. Yes. Yeah, was a captain. Captaining and Murali first played for Tamil Union when I was captaining and then and all my, I mean, how many 14 years I played.

I was his teammate and captain. And then I became coach as well. And then I played with Rangan Hirath. He's another... So two highest wicket takers with right arm and left arm. In the world wicket. No, world cricket. cricket. Rangan is the highest left -armor in test cricket. Highest wicket taker. Highest left -arm wicket taker.

Dylan Pathirana (54:30.136)
So played with him, coached him and yeah. I was Murali as well. And then of course I was a batting coach and when Sanga was captaining, Mahal was there. Very good players, Dilshan. There's a lot of good players. And then you said that you got sacked by Sri Lankan team and then you came to Australia.

What happened? Yeah, 2010 when I was when I was my title was shadow coach at that time. I don't know what that means. I was betting coach plus shadow coach. So apparently they were grooming me to take over from Trevor Bailey's after 2011 World Cup. But in 2010, both decided to get. Yeah, we decided to.

part ways, put it that way. Then I decided to migrate to Australia for the, I mean, permanently. So I was so lucky in 2010 when I landed here. I remember first time I got internet and checked my emails and there was an email from New South Wales Cricket saying that if you're in the country, come and meet us. So that was on 20, I saw on 22nd and then called them and said, I'm here.

I want to, I got email from... How did they know that you're here? That is another good story. There was an article on Crickinfo. That article what happened, Sanghakara has wrote a letter when when cricket board sent me not to set me, keep me in the system. Someone in the board to spite Sangha leaked that letter to the...

media. So, see this is blessing in disguise for me, but then they were trying to discredit Sanghakara because he wrote a letter as a captain and as a captain you wanted to keep your best people around you to be successful. because I was sacked and he wrote a letter not to do that and then that letter was published

Dylan Pathirana (56:53.422)
in newspapers and cricket for worldwide. So that's how they got to know because when I came on the 23rd, they said, OK, 23rd of December, when I call New South Wales Cricket, I'll go backward. They said to me, if you can come before 11 today, we are going close down. We can have a chat. So I went to see the general manager. His name is David Thompson. And I saw that.

Crickinfo article he printed on his table. That's how I got to know that. That's how he knows. Maybe, maybe, maybe I don't know. But then actually Sanga later was on that Crickinfo, what he has wrote about me. Yeah, so you started here in New South Wales as a... Then what happened, we had a chat and that was middle of the season. End of that summer, they offered me a job.

as an assistant coach, batting coach with New South East Blues. Yeah, I was very, very lucky and very, actually, what do call, really... Thankful. ...thankful to them for them to take a chance on me because I'm outside. I just landed in the country and they gave me opportunity. Yeah. And then I actually, the Cricket Australia gave me opportunity to coach Sydney Thunder.

in 2013 as a head coach as well. And during that time, I guess you associate with so many number one players, right? You're talking about. Yeah, I was so much so fortunate to be part of New South Wales cricket at that time. So much talented young cricketers coming through. Yeah. All of them become world class like if you have a name, if you want me to name like Pat Cummings, Steve Smith.

Mitchell Stark, David Warner, Nathan line and, Phil Hughes who passed away. they are all these, Osman Kawaja, all these guys were like 21, 20 early twenties. and they were like super talented. I was fortunate to be involved in that era as their betting coach. on that being around such talented players as a coach.

Dylan Pathirana (59:16.44)
What do you, what do you bring to them? How do you bring out the best in already naturally gifted players? very good question. Yeah. it's, it's all about giving them that space and asking the right questions to challenge them. or asking the right question to, for them to think out of their comfort zone.

Or asking the question why they are doing what they're doing. Is there any better way to do the thing that you are trying to do? And then creating that environment, creating that opportunity for them to get challenged. For them to get challenged. And then them to be different. Yes. Because they already, as you said, they're really talented and gifted. But the human nature is if somebody

comes and ask you or challenge you, sometimes stay in your comfort zone. Or you in that level. Very rarely that human being comes and push the limit on their own. They all have someone asking the right question for them to get into another level. So you're trying to let them see they are elephant in them. That's a very nice way to put it. I never thought about that. Yes. Actually, I will use that next time.

Yeah. yeah, elephant in them. And are there any things that you do, which are a reflection of the things that coaches for you did or things that let you down while you were a player that you try to give to your players now? I don't think I consciously do that. Maybe these different situations when I was handling different situation, actually you're, you are doing those things or you it's those.

experience that you had, bad or good, it'll come in, in a way that you're not going to do the same mistake or you give the positive things that you learned. Yeah, but you don't think of doing it. Sometimes it's your personality has shaped in a way because of your experience. So Chandika, when you're coaching very talented players, apart from talent,

Dylan Pathirana (01:01:46.232)
Do you see any other characteristics of these guys? Yes. number one thing I see is their passion. Number one. All of these the best players, they're not only passionate about their achievement or their game, they know about the game. They know about the history of the game.

They know about the current players who are good and the standard or the system. They know because they're so passionate about the game, they know everything about the game. And that's, I think, driving them to be the best. What about work ethics? Yes. I mean, work ethics, when you come to that elite, elite level, it's similar.

They put effort so much You can't be in that level. Like I'm talking about top five. I'm not even talking about top 10. Top five. Yeah. In world cricket, elite, I mean, Smith, Sanghas, Morales, Mahales, Drangana Herats, Malingas. They all have that work ethic. Though one thing, they separate them from the rest.

rest me in the below 10s or whatever belief as well. There's so much belief in there what they're doing. That's why I said that the start like you can they know their best version of themselves. And is there a fine line between self belief and ego?

Dylan Pathirana (01:03:33.816)
Belief and ego.

Ego, this is how I, my definition of ego. Ego is what you put it out. Self -belief is what you think inside.

So if, ego is, if you outwardly acting or doing things. Yeah, I like that. Yeah. Showing off. Yeah. And then it's indirectly affecting your confidence or your outlook or you, can't constantly do that. You cannot, you have to be yourself, but self -belief is, it's different. Self -belief is that you think that you are good, even if you have a failure.

very next, maybe minute after 30 seconds, what you think is, important. Moment you like, say you have got hit for six or you get out, you walk back, you disappointed, maybe for a minute, the very next minute you need to think how good you are, why you are here. That's self -belief. That's not ego. That's self -belief because you are actually not putting yourself down.

Because otherwise what happened is you're trying to correct that mistake. You go on spiral and you lose confidence and then you can't find yourself. And are there any key ways that you go about inspiring these players to let them find their inner self -belief?

Dylan Pathirana (01:05:08.419)
To be honest with them, I think that's the best thing. can highlight what their strength and highlight their, I call it ceiling, where they can reach and tell them how to manage their limitation. I always tell people and I believe as well, knowing your limitation in sports is your biggest strength.

It's not negative way of looking at it. It's just know your limitation means then you can hide against opposition and manage your limitation without getting too much damage and use your strength.

Dylan Pathirana (01:05:57.65)
You know, the cricket has changed quite a lot, right? From your playing days to now coaching days. There's a lot of strategy involved. I mean, those days, more of a verbal, more like sledge. Now it's more than that. You know, there's so many people involved in day -to -day, not just coach, you have... There's a whole crew.

mentally prepare and all that. Please share with us, like now as a head coach for Bangladesh men's cricket team, how do you kind of manage, like you have a whole supporting team, right? How do you kind of coordinate and manage? Is that part of your role? Yes, I mean, head coach's role is mainly management, because

As a head coach you facilitate all the resources that your coaches have and make sure that they all have the impact on their areas for the team. And I think as a head coach you need to again know your limitation and make sure that you have support for that and make use of those people because you don't know everything.

And then allow them environment for them to like be themselves and support the team and do their job the best way they can. And again, when you're coaching team like Bangladesh is not the best in the world. So you have to have a lot of strategies how to be competitive. And the same time, your success, right?

We talk about quiz for success. Your success can't measure by only winning. Because if you're not the best team, if you only measure your success by winning, you're putting so much pressure and you're actually, you will never achieve your best self or what you can achieve because you are chasing something really difficult. But if you can be your best version or, and then come.

Dylan Pathirana (01:08:22.764)
continually perform to your best ability on the off day of the best team, you win. And the other days you compete. Right? So I always think, okay, you need to always measure your success, depend on resources you have, you have.

That's interesting. I was really keen to ask this question, Chandika. I could have asked this question a little bit earlier. I remember you, while you're coaching here in New South Wales, and then you had the opportunity to go and coach for Bangladesh. That was a really move up because you're coaching national team for Bangladesh at Test Playing Nation.

And then while you're there, you're very happy, you're doing really well. And then you got a call from Sri Lankan cricket to come and coach Sri Lankan team. And you decided, well, that's what that's what you want. I remember you even asked me, what do you think? Just to get my opinion, I guess, you know. What made you decide, well, leave Bangladesh and going back to Sri Lanka? Very good question. Actually, one of my.

Best friends ask me the same question today as well. Yeah, so lot of my friends what to do at that time as well because Sri Lanka cricket was in a very bad state at that time. If you remember in many ways, we lost to Zimbabwe just before that and then there was a lot of rumors around things not happening right. Corruption. Corruption and all that.

match fixing to be blunt. And the other thing was one of my passion to coach your own country because I thought I wanted to. And then that time I thought the right time because there was someone, a gentleman called Mr. Matiwannan and he was a vice president and he actually approached me and asked me to come because the

Dylan Pathirana (01:10:41.088)
where things are going because they didn't have a coach, they had an interim coach. So, combined with those two reasons, like one is that my passion to coach my own country because of who I am because of cricket, and then try to put things right because we are not that bad at that time. Definitely I knew there's something not right. So, that's the two reasons. Has anyone been approached by you to...

Asking for fix a Mac. No, never. No one, because I think they do their homework. So they won't come to me. So, no, I never got any approaches. Yeah. All right. So we've, we've talked a lot about your journey throughout your playing career and then into your, into your coaching career. But I'd like to kind of wrap this conversation up and.

tie it back into your definition of success. You talked a lot about measuring successes, what you had to give up and also trying to make the most of opportunities. Now looking back on this journey that we've discussed, do you feel like you've had a successful life? Yes. When I look back, what I achieved with the opportunities I got and what I didn't compromise.

and then I have what I have to give up. I achieve, I'm very satisfied with what I have achieved. Just one more question. Do you have any regrets? Do you think anything I could have done better? If I had another chance, I would do it in a different way.

I think, only thing if when you ask me, but I normally never thought about it. When you asked me now, I'm thinking probably I would have like work a little bit harder, in my playing days and not take things for granted. And then, as I said, trying to be best version of myself. Absolutely. And I suppose to.

Dylan Pathirana (01:13:02.926)
close on this conversation, I like to take a few notes on what I think are some of the key characteristics that have led you to your successful life. And I suppose the first one which got mentioned so many times throughout this conversation was making, putting yourself in a position to be exposed to opportunities. And whether it was in your playing career or being

available to coach different teams and taking opportunities as well. You always went out of your way to show up and showing up opens the door to many other opportunities. And I think that's really cascaded as well. If you didn't go to score that match, who knows, maybe you wouldn't have ever made the national team. so I think showing up every day and trying to access opportunities is one of your, your key skills.

The other one I think is you take a lot of lessons from your past and implement it, where even if it's subconsciously, I think you talk a lot about the inspiration that you got as a player. by the sounds of things, you do a lot of that yourself to the players that you coach as well. And so I think taking learnings from the past and utilizing them in your, current position is something that has

maybe set you apart from some of the other coaches out there. And another really big one, which I heard so many times was this idea of self -improvement. You are not worried about what other people are trying to do. You're not trying to be better than other people. You're trying to be the best version of yourself and really focusing on that rather than trying to...

Fold to other people's definition of what a great player is. You're always very focused about how you can be the best version of yourself. And I think that's something that you should be commended on. And then the last one is your fearless self -belief. I honestly can't even imagine going to play for the national team at such a young age. I think for most people that would be, you'd be quivering in your boots. But by the sounds of things, you took all of these massive opportunities in your stride.

Dylan Pathirana (01:15:28.62)
And I think having that deep, deeply rooted self belief has set you in good stead to make the most of those opportunities that you've gone out to get. So Chandika, I am by no means even remotely close to an athlete, but I've learned so much from our discussion here today. Even if it was kind of about sports, we've talked about so much outside of sport as well. And there's been so many lessons and takeaways.

So thank you so much for joining us. been a great conversation. Yeah, thank you. And thank you for summarizing that nicely. yeah, I think I was very impressed with you as well. Thank you very much for having me. thanks, Chandigarh. It's nice to have this conversation and share with our audience as well. Because what we learned over the last 20 plus episodes what we've done, know, the hour that we spent here, we're going to spread that.

to many hours, you know, listeners, you know, so that whatever, if they can learn from this conversation, that's exactly the objective that we're trying to achieve. So thank you for being part of our, the quest for success. And you've been always been a great friend. So it's good to have this chat. Brilliant. Thank you very much. And if you aren't already, please follow us at the quest for success pod on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

and also go to our website, www .thequestforsuccesspodcast .com and there you can fill out our success survey and see all of our episodes. Thank you guys so much for listening and we'll see you in the next episode. Thank you.