Sanath Jayasuriya named as Sri Lanka's full-time head coach

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the appointment of Sanath Jayasuriya as the new head coach of the national team. The decision was made by SLC's Executive Committee.

Jayasuriya has been given a substantial two-year contract, running from October 1, 2024, to March 31, 2026. This appointment comes after his successful stint as interim head coach, during which the team had some good performances against cricketing powerhouses India, England, and New Zealand.

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Sanath with his experience is well-positioned to guide the national team: SLC chief executive

His coaching journey began last year in December when he was appointed as Sri Lanka's cricket consultant for a one-year term. He was then announced as the interim head coach in July this year after Chris Silverwood's resignation. Under his guidance, the team won a home ODI series against India and had a good performance in the recent Test tour in England.

While SLC had initially planned to advertise the position and consider both local and international candidates, Jayasuriya's impact as an interim coach helped them make the decision more easily.

"Sanath with his wealth of international cricketing experience is well positioned to guide the national team until we find a permanent solution," SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva earlier said in a statement.

The southpaw remains the fifth-highest ODI run scorer of all time, with 13,430 runs. He also has 323 ODI dismissals, making him the 12th-highest wicket-taker in the format.