Sanath Jayasuriya Appointed Sri Lanka’s Interim Head Coach
Colombo, Sri Lanka – Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed as the interim head coach of the Sri Lanka cricket team. He will hold this position through the home limited-overs series against India and the away Test tour in England, which concludes in mid-September.
Jayasuriya, known for his aggressive batting and impressive bowling during his playing career, has not previously held a high-profile coaching position. However, he has served as the chief selector and cricket consultant for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
This appointment follows the resignation of Chris Silverwood from the head coach position at the end of June after the T20 World Cup 2024. SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva stated that the board would advertise the role and consider suitable candidates, potentially selecting a local coach for the position.
“Sanath, with his wealth of international cricketing experience, is well-positioned to guide the national team until we find a permanent solution,” de Silva commented on Jayasuriya’s appointment.
Jayasuriya was involved with the men’s team during their World Cup campaign in the USA and the Caribbean as a consultant. His role as a cricket consultant was his first official position since a two-year ban for non-cooperation with ICC anti-corruption investigations.
Despite controversies during his tenure as chief selector, including accusations of favoritism and team performance issues, Jayasuriya’s recent contributions have been more positively received. He served as the director of cricket for the Dambulla franchise in the Lanka Premier League 2023 season and as team mentor for Kandy Falcons in 2022.
Jayasuriya’s hands-on approach as a cricket consultant saw him actively involved in strategic planning and decision-making for the national team. This appointment comes after Mahela Jayawardene resigned as consultant coach, citing misalignments in team decision-making.
As one of Sri Lanka’s most revered cricketers, Jayasuriya revolutionized white-ball cricket with his dynamic batting at the top of the order. He remains the fifth-highest ODI run scorer with 13,430 runs and holds 323 ODI wickets, making him the 12th-highest wicket-taker in the format. His extensive playing experience includes 110 Tests and 31 T20Is.
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