Gary Kirsten Appointed Sri Lanka Head Coach

Colombo, Sri Lanka – Sri Lanka Cricket announced on March 9 the appointment of former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of the national men's team, effective April 15, 2026, on a two-year contract.

The decision follows the departure of Sanath Jayasuriya, who stepped down after Sri Lanka's early exit from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which the team co-hosted. Sri Lanka advanced through the group stage but failed to secure a win in three Super Eights matches, including a narrow five-run defeat to Pakistan in their final group game. Injuries to key players like Matheesha Pathirana and Wanindu Hasaranga, combined with batting collapses, contributed to the disappointing campaign.

Kirsten, 56, brings a wealth of experience from both playing and coaching at the international level. As a batter for South Africa from 1993 to 2004, he amassed 14,087 runs across formats, including 7,289 in 101 Test matches with 21 centuries and 34 half-centuries, and 6,798 in 185 One-Day Internationals with 13 centuries and 45 fifties. He established himself as one of the Proteas' most consistent openers during that era.

Transitioning to coaching after retirement, Kirsten...