Sanath Jayasuriya Mulls Stepping Down After Sri Lanka’s World Cup Exit

"Recent struggles in T20 tournaments prompted him to reconsider his position"

After a disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Sanath Jayasuriya, the head coach of the Sri Lanka men’s cricket team, is considering stepping down from his role. Sri Lanka exited the tournament in the Super Eights stage, including a close 5-run loss to Pakistan, and did not reach the semifinals.

Jayasuriya mentioned that he had been thinking about leaving the role even before the World Cup. He said he hoped to finish on a high note, but the team’s performance did not meet expectations. His current contract runs until June 2026, but he plans to discuss his future with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) before formally resigning.

During his tenure, Jayasuriya brought some successes to Sri Lankan cricket, including historic series wins in ODIs and Tests. However, recent struggles in T20 tournaments, including the World Cup, have prompted him to rethink his position.

SLC has already started talks with potential coaches to replace him, aiming to appoint a new head coach before Sri Lanka’s upcoming tours.