March 10, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has confirmed the appointment of former South African international Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of the national men’s team, entrusting him with the task of guiding the side through its next phase of development.
Kirsten is set to assume duties from 15 April under a long-term contract that will run until April 2028. His appointment marks one of the most high-profile coaching selections in the history of Sri Lankan cricket, bringing a figure with extensive international coaching experience to the helm.
The 56-year-old arrives with an impressive record, having previously led India to victory at the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup during his tenure as head coach. He also played a key role in helping South Africa rise to the top of the ICC Test rankings during his coaching career. More recently, he contributed as a consultant to Namibia during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
As a cricketer, Kirsten was one of South Africa’s most dependable opening batters, scoring more than 14,000 runs across formats during an international career that spanned over a decade. He also became the first South African player to reach the milestone of 100 Test matches.
Sri Lanka Cricket officials believe his experience and calm leadership style will help the national team establish greater stability and consistency in international competition. The move comes at a time when the side is looking to rebuild confidence and develop a clearer long-term strategy following mixed results in recent global tournaments.
Kirsten succeeds former Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya, who stepped down from the role after the team’s campaign in the 2026 T20 World Cup concluded. Jayasuriya is expected to continue contributing to the sport by overseeing the National High Performance Centre, where he will focus on developing emerging talent.
During Jayasuriya’s tenure, Sri Lanka recorded several notable achievements on home soil, including a historic one-day international series victory over India in 2024. However, the team struggled to maintain momentum on the global stage, exiting the T20 World Cup in the Super Eight phase after defeats to England and New Zealand.
Sri Lanka Cricket stated that Kirsten’s appointment forms part of a broader restructuring of the national cricket development system, with greater emphasis on strengthening the High Performance framework and creating a clear pathway for players at all levels.
With the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup scheduled to be hosted by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, Kirsten’s familiarity with conditions in the region is expected to be an added advantage. Officials hope his leadership will help nurture a competitive and disciplined Sri Lankan side capable of performing consistently in major international tournaments.