News from Sri Lanka – Chris Silverwood resigns as Sri Lanka head coach

Chris Silverwood has resigned from his post as head coach of the Sri Lanka men’s team with immediate effect. Silverwood had been in office since April 2022. SLC had extended his term in April until the end of the ongoing T20 World Cup.

SLC CEO Ashley de Silva told ESPNcricinfo that Silverwood had communicated his decision to resign before the board had held internal discussions on whether to extend his contract further.

“As an international coach, I am away from my loved ones for a long time,” Silverwood said in an SLC statement. “After long discussions with my family and with a heavy heart, I feel that now is the time to return home and spend some quality time with my loved ones.”

Silverwood thanked the SLC players, coaches, support staff and management and said he would take “many fond memories” from his time in Sri Lanka.

Silverwood, himself a former fast bowler, will be remembered for the importance he gave to developing Sri Lanka’s pace resources. Players like Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara have come through under him. Sri Lanka have also won the 2022 T20 Asia Cup and reached the final of the 2023 ODI Asia Cup under his leadership.

However, Sri Lanka has also had two disastrous World Cup seasons during this time. At last year’s ODI World Cup, they finished ninth and thus failed to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy. They were also eliminated in the first round of the current T20 World Cup after losing to South Africa and Bangladesh.

The SLC CEO said the board will advertise the head coach position and “will also be on the hunt for new headhunters.” The board is also considering local coaches for the position, he said.

The team’s next important games are the Tests in England, which begin on August 21.