- Sanath tender’s resignation following sorry WC run
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is currently monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East ahead of Sri Lanka’s white-ball series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ashley de Silva told The Daily Morning Sports.
Sri Lanka’s ODI and T20 squads are scheduled to leave Colombo on 10 March, to feature in a three-match T20I series from 13 to 17 March in Sharjah, after which they are to contest a three-match One-Day International series from 20 to 25 March in Dubai, as per the ICC Future Tours Programme.
De Silva said to date no final decision has been made on whether the series would go ahead as planned, in view of the escalating hostilities in the Gulf region.
He however confirmed that during the coming days both SLC and their counterparts in Afghanistan, would reach an agreement on whether to defer the series or whether there would be any possibility to have it in Sri Lanka.
On Saturday (28 February), the US and Israel exchanged missile strikes with Iran, leading to the closure of airspace over several countries in the Middle East, disrupting air travel to the region, also internationally with several airlines having to cancel flights or change routes.
Asked whether it would be safe to say the forthcoming tour to the UAE is ‘up in the air’, the SLC CEO stressed that he would not put it that way, as no final decision has yet been taken by either board, connected to the current developments in the Middle East.
But he maintained that before the outbreak of hostilities, both boards had confirmed the series of T20Is and ODIs to be played in the UAE with the match itinerary being released.
He noted that before the national team is due to take wing for the bilateral series, a decision will be taken.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka head coach Sanath Jayasuriya announced on Saturday that he had decided to step down from his position in the wake of his team’s nerve-wracking 5-run loss to Pakistan, that match also ending Dasun Shanaka-led team’s pitiful World Cup journey.
The former skipper whose current contract is due to last till June, added that although he is yet to officially convey his decision to the SLC, he had already made up his mind that the ongoing World Cup would be his swansong as an international coach.
Jayasuriya took over as Sri Lanka full-time head coach following the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the US and West Indies, with a first bilateral ODI series victory over India in 27 years in 2024, as well as winning a Test at the Oval also in the same year being two of his proudest achievements.
However, the ex-explosive opener who previously served two separate tenures as chief selector, went through a horrid time as coach in the shortest format, with the nadir being four defeats on the bounce which hastened their elimination from the ongoing World Cup.
Informed sources revealed that the sport’s local controlling body is currently making arrangements to appoint another foreign coach to replace Jayasuriya.
It was not immediately clear whether this appointment would be made ahead of the tour to UAE, or before the national team’s next all format series in the West Indies in June-July.