Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced on Wednesday that Mahela Jayawardene has resigned from his role as the team’s Consultant Coach. This decision comes just days after Sri Lanka’s disappointing exit from the ongoing T20 World Cup.
Later in the day, Sri Lanka Cricket announced that head coach Chris Silverwood has also resigned from his post.
Chris Silverwood also resigns
Sri Lanka’s head coach Chris Silverwood has stepped down from his position to prioritize his family after a successful tenure that included a T20 Asia Cup win in 2022, a runner-up finish in the 50-over Asia Cup in 2023, and multiple bilateral series victories, including a home series win against Australia in the 50-over format and two away test series wins over Bangladesh.
Mahela Jayawardene tenure marked by change
Mahela Jayawardene, a Sri Lankan cricketing legend, assumed the Consultant Coach position in 2022, initially for a one-year term that was later extended.
During his tenure, he played a key role in implementing significant changes to the national team ecosystem and the High-Performance Centre.
The SLC statement acknowledged his contributions and expressed their gratitude for his service.
No official reason given
While the SLC statement did not specify a reason for Jayawardene’s resignation, the timing suggests a possible connection to Sri Lanka’s underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign. The team failed to qualify for the Super 8 stage, falling short of expectations.
“Jayawardena, during his tenure, helped implement significant changes to the structure of the national team ecosystem and the High-Performance Center,” said a statement from SLC.
More News:
Looking ahead for Sri Lanka Cricket
Mahela Jayawardene’s departure marks a turning point for Sri Lankan cricket. The team management will now need to identify a new coach to lead them forward. Sri Lankan fans will be hoping that the lessons learned from the recent World Cup can be applied to build a stronger team for future challenges.
