• Wants cricketers to stay loyal to the sport

Sri Lanka head coach Sanath Jayasuriya claims that one of the biggest mistakes committed by him in his life is getting involved in party politics and running for public office from his native constituency of Matara District, 15 years ago.

The 56-year-old former master blaster asserted that cricketers should always eschew politics as fans will be divided over such moves and hence opined that instead they ought to remain loyal to the sport and look to serve the country in their chosen profession.

‘’I firmly believe that politics should never be the chosen profession of cricketers or of any sportsman,’’ the head coach who left the political firmament in 2015, told reporters recently.

‘’I do not know what others may say on this issue. But, now looking back, I personally believe that by getting into politics all those years ago, I committed a grave mistake in my life. Everyone loves the sport. In that aspect, if a sportsman who is adored by the entire nation steps into the political world, then fans will stay divided. That is why I say cricketers must enjoy the game. Now I don’t even want to talk about the word called politics and I despise it so much.’’

During his brief political career, the former national skipper served as the Deputy Minister of Postal Services in the then-UPFA Government of Mahinda Rajapaksa and subsequently as the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development under then-President Maithripala Sirisena.

Under Jayasuriya’s stewardship, Sri Lanka have drastically improved their fortunes in One-Day Internationals, currently placed third after having languished in ninth, when he initially assumed his reins on a caretaker capacity in July last year.

However, in October 2024 the former left-handed power-hitter was confirmed as Sri Lanka’s full-time coach until the end of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup by Sri Lanka Cricket.

His previous involvements with the team, which preceded his two-year ban under the ICC’s anti-corruption code, had been as chief selector with him holding the position in two separate stints.

Jayasuriya expressed optimism of his ODI team’s chances to move further up the rankings, as he felt that his players were now singing from the same hymn sheet under Charith Asalanka.

‘’It was a big challenge for us to climb the rankings considering the position we were at. By that time, we had not even qualified for the ICC Champions Trophy. But, we bounced back somehow and most of the credit for the revival must go to Charith (Asalanka). However, we still have a long way to go before we could become world beaters, and I am confident that this team has the potential to be that one day.’’

(JK)