Sri Lanka Cricket Legend Sanath Jayasuriya Resigns as Men's Team Head Coach After T20 World Cup Exit

Colombo. Sri Lankan cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya has decided to resign from the post of Head Coach of the men's cricket team. He made this announcement following Sri Lanka's exit from the World Cup after a defeat against Pakistan.

Although he is yet to officially inform Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC), Jayasuriya stated that this World Cup was already set to be his final assignment. Jayasuriya mentioned that it is time to hand over the responsibility to a new person.

He had signaled about not staying in this post for long during the series against England about two months ago. He appeared disappointed that the desired results did not materialize despite plans to end the World Cup on a high note.

Since Jayasuriya's contract runs until next June, he stated that a final decision would be made only after discussions with the board regarding the limited-overs series against Afghanistan, scheduled to begin on March 13. However, that series itself is currently uncertain due to rising tensions in the Middle East.

Jayasuriya's tenure, which began immediately after the 2024 T20 World Cup, started very effectively. Under his coaching, Sri Lanka won an ODI series against India after 27 years, achieved a historic Test victory against England at The Oval, and defeated New Zealand 2-0 in a home series.

He claimed success in elevating the Sri Lankan team from eighth-ninth position to fourth in the ODI rankings and sixth in Tests. He also noted the significant role played by his support staff in this success.

Despite initial successes, the last year of Jayasuriya's tenure has been forgettable. The team's performance, especially in short-format games, has declined. Sri Lanka's exit from the T20 World Cup held on home soil after losing four consecutive matches became the weakest aspect of his tenure.

Furthermore, the team's performance was lackluster in the 2025 Asia Cup and the triangular series held in Pakistan. He has previously served as the Chief Selector twice.