Sanath Jayasuriya Resigns as Sri Lanka's Head Coach Following T20 World Cup Exit

Sanath Jayasuriya has stepped down as the head coach of Sri Lanka following their recent loss to Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. Expressing disappointment over not finishing on a high note, he revealed that he had been contemplating this decision for some time. With his contract ending in June, Jayasuriya plans to discuss his future with the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. The match against Pakistan saw Sri Lanka fall short despite strong performances from their players. Read on for more details about his resignation and the match recap.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 1, 2026, 09:22 IST

Sanath Jayasuriya Steps Down

Sanath Jayasuriya, the head coach of Sri Lanka, has announced his resignation from the coaching position. This decision follows Sri Lanka's narrow defeat to Pakistan by five runs in their final Super Eight match during the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Reflections on the World Cup

In his statement, Jayasuriya expressed disappointment over not concluding the World Cup on a positive note. He had hoped for a better outcome but acknowledged that the team, having already been eliminated from semifinal contention, could not achieve a victory. Jayasuriya mentioned that he had contemplated stepping down since the England series, indicating that he felt it was time for a new coach to take over. He stated, "I had mentioned two months ago during the England series that I did not plan to stay long. I wanted to leave on a high note after the World Cup, but unfortunately, that did not happen, and I regret it."

Future Plans with Sri Lanka Cricket

Jayasuriya also noted that he intends to have discussions with the Sri Lanka Cricket Board regarding his future. He clarified, "My contract is set to expire in June. I have not made any official announcements to Sri Lanka Cricket yet. I need to meet with them to discuss my next steps."

Match Summary: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan

In the match against Pakistan, Sri Lanka's captain Dasun Shanaka and Pavan Rathnayake both scored half-centuries. However, their efforts fell short as Pakistan set a target of 212 runs, bolstered by a remarkable opening partnership of 176 runs between Sahibzada Farhan (100) and Fakhar Zaman (84). Despite this performance, Pakistan could not advance to the semifinals due to their net run rate, which was insufficient to surpass New Zealand.