Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed the appointment of former national captain Sanath Jayasuriya as the head coach of the men’s cricket team. Sanath Jayasuriya, who initially took over the role temporarily from Chris Silverwood, will lead the team until the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in March 2026. His permanent appointment comes nearly four months after Silverwood stepped down following Sri Lanka’s disappointing early exit from the T20 World Cup.

Sanath Jayasuriya, 55, took charge of the team in June 2024 and has already made a significant impact on the national side. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka secured a historic 2-0 home Test series win over New Zealand in September and achieved a rare victory over England in a Test match on English soil for the first time in a decade. The team’s recent performances in tours against top cricketing nations like India, England, and New Zealand were key factors behind the SLC’s decision to offer him a long-term contract. His appointment officially began on October 1, 2024, and will last until March 31, 2026.

In August 2024, Sri Lanka made headlines when they won a one-day international series against India for the first time in 27 years, further cementing Sanath Jayasuriya’s successful start as coach. Known as one of the greatest one-day international batsmen in the sport’s history, Sanath Jayasuriya was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s first-ever ICC Cricket World Cup victory in 1996. A powerful left-handed opening batter and skilled spin bowler, he represented his country in 586 matches across all formats, scoring 42 centuries and taking 440 wickets. His illustrious international career spanned over two decades, with his final appearance coming in 2011.

However, Sanath Jayasuriya’s career has not been without controversy. In 2019, he was banned from all forms of cricket for two years by the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Anti-Corruption Unit. He was charged with failing to cooperate with an investigation into corruption and was accused of obstructing the inquiry by not handing over his mobile phones when requested. Sanath Jayasuriya has since served his ban and returned to the cricketing fold, reclaiming his prominent position within Sri Lankan cricket.

Beyond the field, Sanath Jayasuriya has also dabbled in politics, serving as a lawmaker and a former deputy minister of the postal service. Sri Lanka is set to host the West Indies for a three-match T20 series later in October and will co-host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with India in 2026.

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