The board of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the immediate employment of legendary and former captain Sanath Jayasuriya as a full-time “Cricket Consultant,” a move that is expected to revitalize the sport. The most recent action, notably, attempts to guarantee elite performance from players and coaching staff and bring a new degree of professionalism to national programs.
As part of his new position, Jayasuriya will be essential in raising the bar for SLC’s national programs. He is in charge of all coaching and training activities for the teams connected to the high-performance center. The emphasis will be on putting customized skill-development plans into action that are in line with the current player development strategy.
According to a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket that India Today cited, “The Honorable Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Harin Fernando, appointed the new committee, which takes effect immediately.”
According to an official release from Sri Lanka Cricket, “Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed as the full-time ‘Cricket Consultant’ for a period of one year, with immediate effect.”
Interestingly, part of Jayasuriya’s duty is to make sure that all player reporting protocols related to SLC’s athlete management system are followed. The former captain will work closely with key personnel across many skill areas to build national specialist skills programs. With an emphasis on quality and ongoing development, his position will be crucial in determining the future of Sri Lankan cricket.
SLC established a new selection committee, with Upul Tharanga leading the department.
Sanath Jayasuriya, who will be based out of the RPICS High-Performance Center, will leverage his extensive knowledge to tackle the difficulties the national teams confront. This calculated action comes after the recent establishment of a new, two-year-term “Cricket Selection Committee,” whose job it is to choose national teams.
Ajantha Mendis, Indika De Saram, Tharanga Paranavitana, and Dilruwan Perera will be on the committee in addition to former One-Day captain Upul Tharanga. Selecting the national team by hand for the 2024 Zimbabwe Tour of Sri Lanka is the committee’s urgent duty, and it will be crucial given the team’s recent troubles in the 2023 World Cup.