Sanath Jayasuriya appointed as full-time head coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team

Sanath Jayasuriya, aged 55, has been appointed as the head coach of Sri Lanka cricket, effective Monday. He succeeds Chris Silverwood, who resigned following the team's premature exit from the T20 World Cup.

Jayasuriya had been serving as the interim coach since June and has now been confirmed in the role on a full-time basis until March 2026, following notable achievements, including a Test victory in England and a 2-0 Test series triumph at home against New Zealand.

The decision was made by the Executive Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket, which cited the team's commendable performances during recent tours in India, England, and New Zealand as a key factor, as stated in an official release from the cricket board.

Under Jayasuriya's leadership, Sri Lanka also secured a one-day international series win against India, marking the first such victory in 27 years.

A former captain of Sri Lanka, Jayasuriya is celebrated as one of the finest one-day international batsmen in history and played a crucial role in the nation's 1996 World Cup success.

Throughout his career, Jayasuriya represented Sri Lanka in 586 matches across all formats, amassing 42 centuries and claiming 440 wickets. His last appearance in international cricket was in 2011.

In addition to his cricketing career, Jayasuriya has faced scrutiny from the International Cricket Council (ICC) anti-corruption unit, having been banned from all cricket activities for two years in 2018 due to charges related to failing to provide his mobile phones and allegedly obstructing an investigation into corruption.

He has also served as a lawmaker and held the position of deputy minister of the postal service.