Former Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed as the interim head coach of the Sri Lanka national team on Monday, July 08. Jayasuriya said on Monday that he was approached by the board to replace Chris Silverwood, who quit after the T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies. Notably, Jayasuriya worked as the national team selector earlier and also as the consultant, overseeing players’ and coaches’ progress in their High-Performance Center in Khettarama as well.

“I have been asked to take over coaching and I am happy to do it,” Sanath Jayasuriya told AFP news agency. However, former captain Mahela Jayawardene also stepped down in June as consultant coach of the team. “Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of Mr. Sanath Jayasuriya as the ‘Interim Head Coach’ of the National Team. He will function in the position until the completion of Sri Lanka’s tour of England in September 2024,” the cricket board said in a release.

“Sanath with his wealth of international cricketing experience is well positioned to guide the national team, until we find a permanent solution,” said Mr. Ashley De Silva, CEO, Sri Lanka Cricket.

However, Sanath Jayasuriya will begin his stint as coach after the end of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 season as well. He will be in charge of the team for the limited-overs series against India in July-August and the tour of England later in the month as well. Meanwhile, Chris Silverwood was the men’s team head coach from April 2022 until the end of the T20 World Cup. Under his tenure, Sri Lanka won the Asia Cup in 2022 but struggled at the ODI World Cup in 2023 in India as well.

Sri Lanka also reached the final of the Asia Cup last year but lost to India in the title match. Sri Lanka failed to make it to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup this year, managing just one victory in the group stage. Sri Lanka finished third in Group C behind South Africa and Bangladesh who qualified for the next round as well.