Sanath Jayasuriya named Sri Lanka's interim head coach

Former captain Sanath Jayasuriya was on Monday named the interim head coach of Sri Lanka’s cricket team ahead of this month’s white-ball home series against India with the country’s board saying that he is “well-positioned” to guide the side till a “permanent solution” is found in the next few months.

The Indian team will be touring Sri Lanka for three T20 Internationals and as many ODIs, starting July 27.

Jayasuriya, who has also served as a chief selector in the past, will continue in the post till Sri Lanka’s Test tour to England in August-September, comprising three games.

“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 SLC said in a statement.

The 55-year-old, a swashbuckling opener in his prime, was named for the interim post after Englishman Chris Silverwood resigned last week as Sri Lanka head coach.

Silverwood stepped down in the wake of the country’s disastrous T20 World Cup campaign, during which it was ousted from the league stage itself.

One of the most attacking batters of his time, Jayasuriya had recently been a consultant for the team during this year’s T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean.

“Jayasuriya is currently serving as the full-time ‘Cricket Consultant’ of Sri Lanka Cricket. His new appointment comes into immediate effect.”

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

Jayasuriya featured in 110 Tests between 1991 and 2007, scoring 6973 runs at an average of 40.07, with the help of 14 centuries and 31 fifties.

In the 445 ODIs he played, the left-hander struck 13,430 runs at an average of 32.36, with 28 hundreds and 68 half-centuries.

He was a key member of the Sri Lankan team that won the 1996 ODI World Cup. He also served as a Member of Parliament from 2010-15.