Malinga appointed as Sri Lanka coach

Malinga with Sri Lankan players.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has made a big surprise ahead of the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup at home. Legendary pacer Lasith Malinga has been appointed as a fast bowling consultant to sharpen the Sri Lankan pace unit. The Sri Lanka Cricket Board said that Malinga's appointment has been made for a month or short-term basis.

Malinga's contract will be effective from December 15, 2025 to January 25, 2026. Malinga's main task will be to perfect the death bowling and tactical preparation of the bowlers before the World Cup. In a statement, SLC said, "Our main goal is to strengthen the World Cup preparations by utilizing Malinga's vast experience in international cricket and especially his intelligence in the T20 format."

Lasith Malinga, one of the greatest bowlers of all time in T20 cricket, has taken 107 wickets in 84 matches for Sri Lanka. He was a key member of Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup-winning team in 2014. Along with international cricket, his dominance in the IPL is also well-known. Malinga, who has taken 170 wickets in 122 matches for Mumbai Indians, is currently serving as the team's bowling coach. It is believed that his experience will be of special help to the young Sri Lankan pacers.

The mega event of the T20 World Cup is going to start in India and Sri Lanka from February 7. The Sri Lankans' opponents in Group 'B' are Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Oman. Before the World Cup, the Sri Lankans will play a three-match T20I series against Pakistan starting January 7. They are also scheduled to play an ODI and T20I series against England. Sri Lanka's World Cup mission will begin with a match against Ireland at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 8.