Bh Chalien Dantes

Sri Lanka have turned to former South Africa star Gary Kirsten as their new head coach, with the 58-year-old set to take charge from April 15^th.

He has signed a two-year deal that will see him lead the team into next year’s 50-over World Cup, cohosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Kirsten brings a wealth of experience, having guided India to World Cup glory in 2011 and helped South Africa reach the top ranking across all formats in 2013. His most recent role was with Pakistan’s limited-overs teams, though he stepped down in October 2024 after six months.

A prolific player himself, Kirsten featured in 101 Tests and 185 ODIs for South Africa between 1993 and 2004, amassing 14,087 runs, including 21 Test centuries and 13 ODI hundreds.

The move comes after Sanath Jayasuriya resigned as Sri Lanka’s coach following their exit from the T20 World Cup. Kirsten previously worked as a consultant for Namibia during the tournament.

Sri Lanka’s next fixtures include three T20Is against Afghanistan this month and a tour of England in September, featuring three T20Is and three ODIs. The former South African opener’s immediate focus will be on preparing the team for the 2027 World Cup campaign.