Jayasuriya quits as Sri Lanka men’s cricket coach after T20 World Cup exit

KATHMANDU: Former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya has decided to resign as head coach of the national men’s cricket team following the team’s failure to reach the semifinals of the ongoing T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka’s campaign ended after a narrow Super 8 defeat to Pakistan, a loss that dashed their hopes of progressing further in the tournament.

“ I felt it’s time to hand over this responsibility to someone else,” Jayasuriya said, confirming his decision. He revealed that he had internally made the choice during the bilateral series against England two months ago.

“I had hoped to bow out of coaching on a high with a good World Cup performance, but that didn’t happen. I am disappointed,” he added.

While his contract remains valid until June, Jayasuriya has not yet formally informed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) about his resignation. “I still need to discuss this with SLC. If they can appoint someone soon, I will be happy,” he said. His participation in the upcoming limited-overs series against Afghanistan, starting March 13, will depend on discussions with the board, though regional tensions have cast uncertainty over the series.

Jayasuriya took over as head coach after the 2024 T20 World Cup. His tenure began on a high note, with Sri Lanka clinching their first bilateral ODI series against India in 27 years in August 2024. In September, they secured a historic Test victory at The Oval and later won a 2-0 Test series at home against New Zealand.

“Over the past one and a half years, I managed to lift the team from a weak position,” Jayasuriya reflected. “We were eighth or ninth in ODIs and had missed Champions Trophy qualification, but now we are fourth. In Tests, we are sixth, and in T20s, sixth or seventh (currently eighth). These successes are not mine alone; my support staff played a huge role. Though I lacked coaching experience, my life as a player helped me manage the team effectively.”

However, Sri Lanka has struggled in the shorter formats over the past year. They exited the T20 World Cup after four consecutive defeats on home soil. Performances in the 2025 Asia Cup were average, and expectations were not met in the T20I tri-series in Pakistan.