Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has officially named World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of the national men’s team.
The South African legend joins on a two-year contract starting April 15, 2026, following a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign that saw the co-hosts exit in the Super Eights.
Kirsten, who famously guided India to the 2011 ODI World Cup title and South Africa to the world No. 1 Test ranking, replaces Sanath Jayasuriya.
While Jayasuriya is stepping down from the head coaching role early, he will remain a central figure in the setup as the new Director of the National High Performance Centre.
The board’s decision is part of a broader structural revamp. Kirsten’s primary objective will be preparing the squad for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, to be held in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
“The appointment of the new head coach is part of Sri Lanka Cricket’s efforts to revamp the structure of the National High Performance Centre,” SLC confirmed in a statement.
Jayasuriya, a legend of the game with 586 international appearances, offered a candid apology to fans for the team’s recent performance but expressed support for the new direction: “I will be overall in charge of training and will continue to work with the team.”
