Sri Lanka Legend Sanath Jayasuriya Appointed Interim Head Coach of Men's National Team
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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya as the interim head coach of the men's national team. Jayasuriya will hold the position until the completion of the upcoming tour of England, taking over immediately from Chris Silverwood, who resigned following Sri Lanka's disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
The Sri Lankan team will travel to England for a three-match Test series, commencing on August 21. The series will begin in Manchester, with the remaining two Tests to be held in London at Lord's and The Oval.
Jayasuriya, who was part of Sri Lanka's contingent as a Cricket Consultant during the T20 World Cup 2024, brings extensive experience to the role. His cricketing career boasts 586 matches for Sri Lanka across formats, amassing 21,032 runs and 440 wickets. Renowned as one of the most formidable opening batters of his era, Jayasuriya has also served as a selector for Sri Lanka Cricket and currently holds the position of full-time Cricket Consultant.
Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, expressed confidence in Jayasuriya’s appointment, stating, “Sanath, with his wealth of international cricketing experience, is well-positioned to guide the national team until we find a permanent solution.”
Jayasuriya’s appointment follows Silverwood’s tenure, which included notable successes like a T20 Asia Cup triumph in 2022 and a runner-up position in the 50-over Asia Cup in 2023.