Sanath Jayasuriya has been named Sri Lanka's interim men's head coach following Chris Silverwood's resignation in June. Silverwood, aged 49, stepped down after Sri Lanka's early exit from the T20 World Cup during the group stage.
Jayasuriya, the former captain of Sri Lanka, who is now 55, will lead the team on their three-Test tour of England in August and September. However, this arrangement is currently only temporary.
Jayasuriya expressed his satisfaction, stating to AFP that he was pleased to take on the coaching role. This marks his first high-profile coaching position, although he previously served as a national selector for Sri Lanka and has been working as a cricket consultant for the team.
Ashley de Silva, the chief executive of Sri Lanka Cricket, commented that Jayasuriya, with his extensive international cricket experience, is well-equipped to guide the national team until a permanent coach is appointed.
As a player, the all-rounder Jayasuriya represented Sri Lanka in 586 matches, with his international career concluding in 2011.