Sanath Jayasuriya moves to resign as Sri Lanka head coach after T20 World Cup failure; SLC eyes foreign replacement

Sanath Jayasuriya's decision came in the wake of yet another underwhelming ICC campaign for the 2014 champions.

Updated on: Mar 1, 2026, 06:57:32 IST

Written by Aratrick Mondal

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Sanath Jayasuriya has announced his intention to step down as head coach of Sri Lanka following the team’s exit from the 2026 T20 World Cup at the Super 8 stage, where they suffered three consecutive defeats. The decision comes in the wake of yet another underwhelming ICC campaign for the 2014 champions. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is now in discussions with several foreign candidates as it begins the process of identifying his successor.

Sri Lanka's head coach Sanath Jayasuriya (R) speaks with commentator and former player Kumar Sangakkara at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium (AFP)

Jayasuriya had joined the national side as interim head coach in July 2024 before being handed the full-time role in October that year. His contract was set to run until June 2026, but the former captain has opted to step aside early after the team’s latest World Cup disappointment.

Despite a shock defeat to Zimbabwe in their final group-stage fixture, they progressed to the Super 8 phase, having earlier secured a notable win over Australia. However, the second round proved disastrous. Consecutive losses to England, New Zealand and Pakistan sealed their fate, extending Sri Lanka’s barren run in T20 World Cups. They have now failed to reach the semifinals in each of the five editions since lifting the trophy in 2014.

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The co-hosts came agonisingly close to ending their campaign on a high when Dasun Shanaka smashed a blistering unbeaten 76 off just 31 balls against Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Chasing 213, Sri Lanka fell short by five runs in a thrilling contest that summed up a tournament of missed opportunities.

Under Jayasuriya’s tenure, Sri Lanka played 76 international matches across formats, registering 34 victories for an overall win percentage of approximately 45 per cent.

SLC Chief Executive Officer Ashley de Silva confirmed to the Sunday Times that the board has initiated formal negotiations with overseas coaching candidates.

“We have been negotiating with a few foreign coaches,” de Silva said. “We cannot reveal their identities at this stage, but as soon as discussions are finalised, we will make a public announcement.”

Sri Lanka’s next assignment is a limited-overs series against Afghanistan in the UAE in mid-March.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aratrick Mondal
Aratrick Mondal is a senior sports journalist based in New Delhi. In his eight years as a sports writer, Aratrick has worked at leading media organisations, including The Times of India, Times Now, Zee, India TV and currently works at a senior position at Hindustan Times Digital. He writes on cricket, football, pickleball and tennis, among other sports. He has extensively covered India's evolving cricket landscape, the country's new-found love for private leagues such as Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), Ultimate Kho Kho League (UKK), Rugby Premier League (RPL) and several tennis leagues. He has closely covered emerging sports such as pickleball. His coverage of major franchise events lends an atmospheric flavor to his ground reports. His recent story on how SA20 (the domestic cricket league of South Africa) had opened up its grounds to create a carnival-like fan experience garnered major international attention, including appreciation from major cricketers. Tennis holds a special place in his heart. Aratrick has built a strong niche in analytical tennis stories—ranging from Grand Slam narratives and player profiles to tactical breakdowns and ranking trends. His long-form features often decode grand slams, career highs and lows of tennis greats and the upward trajectory of emerging stars. He also closely follows India's tennis landscape, having covered the Davis Cup, Bengaluru Open and Tata Open, among others. His reporting is backed by strong data capabilities, with hands-on experience using tools like Python, Tableau, and Excel to produce visually rich, insight-led stories. This data-first approach enhances accuracy, transparency, and trust. In leadership roles, he has managed editorial shifts, overseen homepage strategy, optimised SEO workflows, and mentored peers to deliver consistent, high-traffic journalism. He recently won the HT DigiStar award for the third quarter of financial year 2025-26. Aratrick is trusted for his balanced reportage, sound sourcing, and ability to translate complex sporting events into engaging narratives that speak to a wide audience. He believes sports is for everyone, not just for the enthusiasts and has a unique ability to bring people together - just like the sumptuous meals you'll often find him cooking on a weekend evening.Read More

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