Chris Silverwood resigns as Sri Lanka head coach following multiple shambolic World Cup campaigns
Sri Lanka head coach Chris Silverwood has handed in his resignation after the team's humbling exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup. The Wanindu Hasaranga-led side were eliminated in the Super 8 stage, with their campaign including only a solitary win over the Netherlands.
Silverwood joined the Sri Lanka coaching staff in April 2022 after being sacked as England head coach. He had a brilliant first set of months in charge after guiding the side to a 1-1 Test series result and a 3-2 ODI series win against Australia at home. The Lankans also won the 2022 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and also made it to the final of the 2023 edition.
However, it is at the biggest stage that Sri Lanka have been below satisfactory. They had to scrape through the group stages of the 2022 T20 World Cup and were thoroughly outplayed in the Super 12 phase. The team finished ninth in the 2023 ODI World Cup, failing to qualify for the 2023 Champions Trophy in the process. The shambolic 2024 T20 World Cup campaign turned out to be the last straw for the English coach.
“Being an international coach means long periods away from loved ones. After lengthy conversations with my family and with a heavy heart, I feel it is now time for me to return home and spend some quality time together,” said Silverwood in a statement released by Sri Lanka Cricket.
“I would like to thank the players, coaches, backroom staff, and management of the SLC for their support during my time in Sri Lanka. Without your support, none of the success would have been possible. It has been a real honour for me to be part of Sri Lanka Cricket and I will be taking away many fond memories,” added Silverwood.
Sri Lanka's next assignment comes in the form of a white-ball home series against India during the July-August window.
Sri Lanka Cricket in complete and utter disarray in the recent past
Silverwood's resignation comes barely a day after Mahela Jayawardene quit his role as a consultant, leaving Sri Lanka in search of multiple members of the coaching staff.
Sri Lanka Cricket was also briefly suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) due to government interference. Although the ban was lifted soon after, it resulted in the 2024 U-19 World Cup being shifted from Sri Lanka to South Africa.
Sri Lanka's recent World Cup exit also comes with its fair share of controversies. Players allegedly spent the night in a club, leading to them reporting late for the practice session the next day. Sri Lanka sports minister Harin Fernando has outright stated that he will resign if those allegations are proven true.