Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed as the interim head coach of the national cricket team ahead of their upcoming limited-overs series against India.
This announcement follows the resignation of Englishman Chris Silverwood, who stepped down after Sri Lanka’s disappointing T20 World Cup campaign where they were eliminated in the league stage.
The Indian cricket team is set to tour Sri Lanka for three T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals, commencing on July 27.
Jayasuriya, 55, a legendary opener renowned for his aggressive batting style, will lead the Sri Lankan side in this crucial home series.
In addition to the India series, Jayasuriya will also oversee Sri Lanka's Test tour to England, according to a report by The Daily Mirror. His extensive experience and past role as a chief selector are expected to provide stability and strategic insight to the team during this transitional period.
Jayasuriya, who served as a consultant during this year’s T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean, brings a wealth of experience to the coaching role.
His illustrious playing career includes 110 Test matches in which he scored 6,973 runs at an average of 40.07, including 14 centuries and 31 fifties.
In One Day Internationals, he amassed 13,430 runs across 445 matches, with an average of 32.36, 28 centuries, and 68 half-centuries.
A key figure in Sri Lanka’s 1996 ODI World Cup-winning team, Jayasuriya also had a stint in politics, serving as a Member of Parliament from 2010 to 2015.
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