Sri Lanka announce Kirsten as new coach

Sri Lanka have appointed former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten as their new coach.

Kirsten will take up the role on April 15 after signing a two-year deal that will see him manage the country at next year’s 50-over World Cup which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The 58-year-old coached India to World Cup victory in 2011 and also helped South Africa become the top-ranked team in all formats of the game in 2013.

His most recent coaching job was with Pakistan’s limited-overs teams, but he resigned from the role in October 2024, just six months into a two-year contract.

Sri Lanka Cricket said Kirsten’s “primary responsibility will be to lead the team in their preparation and campaign for the 2027 World Cup”.

Kirsten played 101 Tests and 185 one-day internationals for South Africa between 1993 and 2004, scoring 14,087 runs and making 21 Test and 13 ODI centuries.

Sanath Jayasuriya had announced that he would step down as Sri Lanka’s head coach after the the team’s exit from the T20 World Cup, where Kirsten had worked as a consultant for Namibia.

The same is expected for Sri Lanka too, who will face Afghanistan in three T20Is this month plays three T20Is and three ODIs in England in September.