Sri Lanka Appoints Malinga as Fast Bowling Consultant for 2026 T20 WC

Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed former fast bowler Lasith Malinga as consultant fast bowling coach for the national men's team, a move aimed at bolstering preparations for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2026.

The appointment, announced by Sri Lanka Cricket on Tuesday, runs for one month from December 15, 2025, to January 25, 2026. During this period, the 42-year-old Malinga will focus on developing the team's fast bowlers, drawing on his expertise in death bowling within the T20 format. Officials from Sri Lanka Cricket stated that the role seeks to harness Malinga's international experience to enhance the unit's performance ahead of the tournament, which Sri Lanka will co-host with India starting February 7, 2026.

Malinga, known for his distinctive sling action, enjoyed a distinguished career representing Sri Lanka in 30 Tests, 226 One-Day Internationals, and 84 T20 Internationals. He claimed 101 wickets in Tests, 338 in ODIs, and 107 in T20Is, with his best T20 figures of five for six. A pivotal figure in Sri Lanka's white-ball cricket, he played a key role in their 2014 T20 World Cup victory in Bangladesh, where they defeated India in the final. The team also reached the final...