Mahela to join Sri Lanka team as Consultant Coach for T20 World Cup

Mahela Jayawardena will join the Sri Lanka cricket team as a Consultant Coach, for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia scheduled to commence on October 16, according to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).

Speaking at a press conference in Colombo today (15), SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said that the Sri Lankan national team will leave the island for Australia on October 02 and that former skipper Mahela Jayawardena will join the team in Australia by October 06. 

He will remain with the Sri Lanka team for the duration of the tournament, he said. 

Sri Lanka have just two warm-up games in Melbourne prior to their opening clash at the T20 World Cup, where they take on Namibia in a first-round match in Geelong.

Sri Lanka starts their T20 World Cup campaign away from the competition favourites in the round one against Namibia, Netherlands and UAE prior to the Super 12 stage of the event.

In an interview with the ICC Review, Jayawardena said he believes Sri Lanka’s stunning triumph at the Asia Cup has changed expectations and the island nation should be zeroed in on winning the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup starting in October.

“If they take the confidence of what they achieved in the last (T20) World Cup and then now at the Asia Cup, I think they shouldn’t be looking at anything other than going all the way and winning the World Cup,” Jayawardena said on The ICC Review.

“I mean that’s the attitude to have and this is a group I feel that will play with that no fear and no extra luggage on them either so just go out there and enjoy their cricket and play. 

“They did well in Australia in November when they toured in the T20s. They really performed well. So if they take all that into account, I think they are in a good space now.”