In a major change, former Sri Lankan skipper Sanath Jayasuriya has been named as the team’s head coach, effective immediately. He will take charge of the team for the upcoming home series against India, which commences on July 27. This temporary appointment comes after Chris Silverwood stepped down as head coach following the T20 World Cup 2024.
Jayasuriya, who has an extensive cricketing experience, will lead the team until Sri Lanka’s tour of England ends in September 2024. His stint will also cover the limited-overs series against India, comprising three T20Is and three ODIs.
The CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, Ashley De Silva, highlighted Jayasuriya’s wealth of international experience as the reason behind his appointment.
As a player, Jayasuriya is one of the most successful cricketers in Sri Lankan history. He has played 586 international matches, scoring 21032 runs across all formats. In ODIs, he is the second-highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka with 13430 runs to his name. He has also represented the team in 110 Tests and 31 T20Is.
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Sri Lanka will look to build a solid team under Jayasuriya:
Jayasuriya’s appointment comes at a crucial time for Sri Lanka cricket, which is looking to bounce back from a disappointing show in the ODI World Cup. Under Silverwood’s guidance, the team won only one game out of four and was knocked out in the group stage.
Despite winning the T20 Asia Cup in 2022 and finishing as runners-up in the ODI Asia Cup in 2023, Sri Lanka’s poor performance in the World Cup led to Silverwood’s departure.
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As chief selector and consultant during the T20 World Cup 2024, Jayasuriya has already gained valuable experience in the role. With his new responsibility, he is expected to bring stability and direction to the team as they prepare for their upcoming series against India and England.
