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Up to the conclusion of the 2026 T20 World Cup, Sanath Jayasuriya will serve as the men’s team’s head coach in Sri Lanka. Though he had been serving in an acting capacity, he had been their coach since early July. However, Sri Lanka Cricket has offered him a full-time position after he demonstrated success in the capacity.
In the last few months, Sri Lanka has emerged victorious in their first bilateral ODI series against India in 27 years, won a Test match away from home for the first time in ten years against England, and most recently thrashed New Zealand 2-0 at home to increase their chances of making it to the World Test Championship final. All of these achievements came under Jayasuriya’s leadership.
“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, and New Zealand, where Jayasuriya was in charge as the ‘interim head coach’,” the board statement said.
Jayasuriya is embarking on his first significant coaching endeavour. In multiple interviews, he has stated that he sees his main responsibility as establishing an atmosphere that allows players to be free to act as they like. It seems that the players have taken to his methods well; a number of them have publicly praised him.
Prior to receiving a two-year ban for violating the ICC’s anti-corruption policy, Jayasuriya was the team’s top selector. He had served in that capacity twice before.
The upcoming limited-overs matches against the West Indies in Dambulla and Pallekele will be his maiden task as head coach.