Sanath resigns as Head Coach

Monday, 9 March 2026 03:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya has resigned from his position as Head Coach of the Sri Lanka cricket team at the end of the T20 World Cup.

Although Jayasuriya’s contract did not expire until June this year, he had earlier expressed his willingness to step down after the World Cup.

Sri Lanka failed to qualify for a place in the semi-finals of the World Cup when they were beaten by England, New Zealand, and Pakistan in the Super Eights.

Jayasuriya took over as Head Coach from Chris Silverwood soon after the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean.

During his tenure, Sri Lanka recorded their first ODI bilateral series win against India in 27 years, before going onto win a Test at the Oval in 2024. They also beat New Zealand 2-0 at home in a Test series. Sri Lanka were able to rise in the ODI rankings from eighth to fourth and in Tests to sixth. It was only in T20Is that they could not progress.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) CEO Ashley de Silva confirming Jayasuriya’s resignation said that his expertise would be made use of in a different capacity by SLC. – [ST]