Former Sri Lankan captain and legendary all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya has officially been appointed as the new head coach of the Sri Lankan men’s cricket team, as announced by the Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) on Monday, October 7. The news was confirmed on X (formerly known as Twitter), with Jayasuriya set to succeed Chris Silverwood in the role.
Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of Sanath Jayasuriya as the head coach of the national team.
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) October 7, 2024
The Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket made this decision taking into consideration the team’s good performances in the recent tours against India, England,… pic.twitter.com/IkvAIJgqio
Chris Silverwood, who had previously served as the head coach of the England national team, resigned from his position in June 2024. His departure followed Sri Lanka’s failure to qualify for the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which took place in the West Indies and the USA between June 1 and June 29, 2024.
Jayasuriya, a key member of the Sri Lankan team that won the ODI World Cup in 1996, had already stepped in as the interim head coach during the white-ball series against India in July-August 2024. Under his guidance, Sri Lanka secured a historic bilateral ODI series win over India, their first since 1997. Additionally, Jayasuriya’s leadership saw Sri Lanka achieve notable Test victories, including a win over England at The Oval and a 2-0 series whitewash against New Zealand on home soil in September 2024.
At 55 years old, Jayasuriya brings extensive experience to his new role. Having played 110 Test matches, 445 ODIs, and 31 T20Is during his illustrious international career spanning over two decades, he has been offered an 18-month contract as head coach.
