Sri Lanka Cricket announced the resignation of former batter and skipper Mahela Jayawardene from the post of consultant coach of the national teams at various levels following a disappointing ICC T20 World Cup campaign in the West Indies and USA. Mahela Jayawardene appointed as the consultant for the Sri Lankan cricket Team was set with the responsibility of the Lankan team for this world cup which eventually didn’t bore fruit.
The ongoing T20 World Cup was poor for Sri Lanka as they failed to reach Super Eights. They lost to South Africa and Bangladesh in the Group Stage and could just register one win against Netherlands. Their game against Nepal was washed out due to rain. With just three points, Lanka finished at third spot in Group D.
Mahela Jayawardene role as player and consultant for Sri Lanka.
Ever since his appointment to the role in 2022, Mahela Jayawardene witnessed mixed results. After securing the Asia Cup title in 2022, Sri Lanka performed poorly in the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2023 50-over World Cup in Australia and India, respectively. While Lanka qualified for the Super 12s in 2022 T20 Cup, they finished at fourth in their group.
In the 2023 50-over World Cup, Lanka finished ninth with two wins and seven losses, failing to secure qualification to 2025 ICC Champions Trophy to be held in Pakistan. During his tenure, he also worked with U19 and Sri Lanka ‘A’ teams. During his playing days, Mahela Jayawardene played 652 international games for SL, scoring 25,957 runs at an average of 39.15, with 54 centuries and 136 fifties.
Mahela Jayawardene is considered as one of the greatest batters of all time and the backbone of Sri Lanka’s famed 2000s-2010s batting, along with Kumar Sangakkara. Mahela Jayawardene secured the 2002 Champions Trophy and 2014 T20 World Cup with Sri Lanka as a player and ended as runners-up of 2007 and 2011 50-over World Cups to Australia and India.
Mahela Jayawardene steps down as Sri Lankan men’s team’s consultant
Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene has resigned as the national men’s team’s consultant with six months still left in his tenure. The ex middle-order batter started working with the team as a consultant in 2022, but mixed results with the Sri Lankan team prompted him to depart from the role.
The 47-year-old witnessed the Sri Lankan team lift the Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE. However, they performed poorly in the subsequent ICC tournaments, 2022 T20 World Cup, 2023 World Cup, and 2024 T20 World Cup, suffering group-stage exits in each of them. He was also reportedly absent from the Sri Lankan camp during T20 World Cup 2024.
In a letter accessed by ESPN Cricinfo, the Jayawardene stated:
“It has become apparent to me that current decision-making is no longer fully aligned with the direction we were taking in some of these areas, and after careful consideration, I have concluded that it is best I step down.”
The 47-year-old still remains the global head of performance for IPL franchise Mumbai Indians and its franchises. He is the second most successful coach in all of IPL history.
SLC lauds Mahela Jayawardene’s contribution
Sri Lanka Cricket, who were keen to extend the legend’s contract, released a statement, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo, claiming:
“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that Mr. Mahela Jayawardene, who served as the ‘Consultant Coach’ of the SLC, has tendered his resignation with immediate effect. Jayawardene, during his tenure, helped implement significant changes to the structure of the national team ecosystem and the High-Performance Center.”
Sri Lanka suffered losses to Bangladesh and South Africa in T20 World Cup 2024, while the match against Nepal was washed out. The former champions’ only victory came against The Netherlands, but it wasn’t enough for them to progress to the Super 8 stage.
The Lankans will next be seen in international cricket against England when they lock horns in a three-match Test series away from home. Under Dhananjaya de Silva, they will be keen to secure their first series win on English soil since the famous victory in 2014.