Colombo: Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene on Monday was appointed as the Consultant Coach for the national team, with effect from January 1.
Jayawardene, whose new job tenure has been set for a period of one year, will be in charge of the overall cricketing element of the Sri Lanka teams and will provide strategic support for the players and management teams at the High-Performance Center.
"We are extremely happy that Mahela is joining the National Team for an extended role, especially given the context that Sri Lanka has a heavy international calendar during the year 2022," said Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket.
"Mahela’s contributions during the first round of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup became invaluable for the overall performances of our team in the concluded event."
Jayawardene will, however, continue his role with the Under-19 team as it prepares for the ICC Under-19 World Cup which is scheduled to be held in the West Indies next year.
"This is an exciting opportunity to work with the national cricketers and coaches in our various development squads, including the U19 and A Team teams, to help us do justice to the enormous cricketing talent and potential in Sri Lanka," Jayawardene said.
"I am very passionate about Sri Lankan cricket and believe that with a coordinated and focused team effort, taking a holistic approach working across all age groups, we can achieve consistent success in the future.
"My main role will be supporting our team of national coaches and support staff in terms of our preparation and strategic-thinking during the coming year," he added.
Jayawardene was appointed by the Sri Lanka Cricket’s Executive Committee following a consultation with the Technical Advisory Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket. (UNI)
