To help its men in the next cycle of international tournaments, Sri Lanka Cricket has resorted to an old and established name in the international cricket to spear head the men team. Gary Kirsten, the former opener of South Africa, is named the head coach of Sri Lankan national team on a two-year contract.
The new 56-year-old will assume the position officially on April 15 and should take the position until April 2028. He has come when the Sri Lankan cricket is seeking to re-establish and consolidate its structure following a tumultuous time in the international competitions.
Kirsten is the new Sri Lankan captain replacing the former captain, Sanath Jayasuriya who left the captaincy post after the Sri Lankan team lost in the recent T20 world cup. The board is of the opinion that Kirsten has international coaching experience that can assist in bringing sanity and a sense of direction to the team.
The focus of one of the key objectives of his time in office will be to host ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 in Sri Lanka. South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe will host the tournament and Sri Lanka is looking forward to developing a competitive team long before the tournament commences.
Gary Kirsten is a world cricket player whose reputation is not only based on his playing career, but also on his success as a coach. He was reputed to be one of the most dependable opening batters during his period as a player to South Africa between 1993 and 2004. In Tests and ODs, he had over 14000 international runs and has scored several centuries.
Kirsten retired in the international cricketing world and started his coaching career which was shortly felt. He was the head coach in the Indian men team between 2008 and 2011, yielding with India being the winner of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. The win is among the most memorable moments in the Indian cricketing history.
He also served the South African national side as coach later and under his leadership, he took them to the summit of the ICC ranking. Kirsten has also taught at various coaching and consulting engagements around the globe in the years.
Sri Lanka Cricket has reported that his appointment is not an isolated initiative aimed at modernizing the Sri Lankan system of cricket and enhancing the development pathway of international players. His history of establishing good teams will be instrumental in that process.
Under the new coaching leadership currently in place, Sri Lanka will be hoping that the next few years will see the newly reborn competitiveness and improved performances in the world arena.