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

In a surprising turn of events, Sanath Jayasuriya has stepped down as the head coach of Sri Lanka's cricket team following their exit from the 2026 T20 World Cup. After a narrow defeat to Pakistan, Jayasuriya expressed his disappointment at not being able to conclude the tournament on a high note. He indicated that he had made the decision to resign earlier during the England series and plans to discuss his future with the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. The team, co-hosting the tournament, failed to secure a semifinal spot, leaving fans and players alike reflecting on what could have been.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 1, 2026, 09:10 IST

Jayasuriya Steps Down Following World Cup Disappointment

Pallekele [Sri Lanka], March 1: Sanath Jayasuriya, the head coach of Sri Lanka, has announced his resignation from the coaching position. This decision follows a narrow defeat to Pakistan by 5 runs in their final Super Eight match of the 2026 T20 World Cup. The former explosive left-handed batsman expressed his disappointment, stating he had hoped to conclude the tournament on a positive note but felt he fell short of that goal.

As co-hosts, Sri Lanka had already been eliminated from semifinal contention and were unable to finish their campaign with a victory.

Jayasuriya mentioned that he believed it was time for a new leader to take over, having made the decision during the England series that he would not extend his tenure. He remarked, “I thought it was best to pass the title to someone else. I indicated two months ago during the England series that I had no intention of staying on. I had hoped to leave after the World Cup on a high note, but unfortunately, that did not happen, and I regret that,” as reported by the ICC.

He also noted that he plans to discuss his future with the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. “My contract is set to expire in June. I have yet to make an official announcement to Sri Lanka Cricket. I need to have a conversation with them about my next steps,” he added.

In the match against Pakistan, despite half-centuries from captain Dasun Shanaka and Pavan Rathnayake, Sri Lanka fell short after Pakistan scored 212/8, bolstered by a strong opening partnership of 176 runs between Sahibzada Farhan (100) and Fakhar Zaman (84).

Interestingly, Pakistan also missed out on a semifinal berth, unable to surpass New Zealand on net run rate.