Sri Lanka name Kirsten as head coach with 2027 World Cup in focus

He replaces Sanath Jayasuriya after the team’s poor Twenty20 World Cup campaign

General Sport - Leaders Sport Summit 2012 - Stamford Bridge - 10/10/12 Gary Kirsten Head Coach of South Africa International Cricket during a talk called "View from the Top: Leadership in a changing world" Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Matthew Childs Livepic/File Photo

Sri Lanka have appointed South African Gary Kirsten as their new head coach on a two-year contract as they begin preparations for the 2027 One-Day International World Cup, the country's cricket board said on Monday.

Kirsten, 58, previously guided India to the 2011 World Cup title and later coached South Africa from 2011 to 2013. He also briefly served as Pakistan's white-ball coach in 2024, resigning six months into the job.

He replaces Sanath Jayasuriya, who stepped down after Sri Lanka's disappointing campaign at the recent Twenty20 World Cup.

"Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of former South African cricketer Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of the national men's team, effective from April 15, 2026," they said in a statement.

"The appointment of the new head coach is part of Sri Lanka Cricket's efforts to revamp the structure of the National High Performance Center."

The 2027 World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

South Africa and Zimbabwe will qualify automatically for the tournament as hosts. Namibia, despite co-hosting, will have to go through the regular qualification pathway because they are not a full International Cricket Council member.