Former Sri Lanka fast-bowling great Lasith Malinga has been appointed to Sri Lanka’s coaching staff in a short-term consultancy role as part of the team’s preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed the appointment on Tuesday, June 30, highlighting Malinga’s role in strengthening the fast-bowling unit ahead of the global tournament.
According to SLC, Malinga will serve as a short-term bowling consultant from December 15 to January 25, 2026.
During this period, his primary responsibility will be working closely with Sri Lanka’s pace bowlers, focusing on skill development, match awareness, and execution in pressure situations, particularly in the death overs where Malinga built his legendary reputation.
Malinga was a key figure during Sri Lanka’s golden era between 2007 and 2014. During that period, Sri Lanka reached the ODI World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011, while also enjoying significant success in T20 cricket.
The island nation finished runners-up in the 2009 and 2012 T20 World Cups before finally lifting the trophy in 2014, defeating India in the final at Mirpur.
Malinga’s match-winning performances and mastery at the back end of innings played a crucial role in those campaigns, cementing his status as one of the greatest fast bowlers in limited-overs cricket.
Beyond his international achievements, Malinga brings valuable coaching experience to the role.
He has previously worked with Indian Premier League franchises Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals, gaining insight into modern T20 tactics, workload management, and player development.
His experience in franchise cricket is expected to add tactical depth to Sri Lanka’s preparations, especially for conditions expected during the 2026 tournament.
Since their T20 World Cup triumph in 2014, Sri Lanka have struggled to replicate similar success, failing to reach the knockout stages in the last three editions of the tournament.
The appointment of Malinga is seen as part of a broader strategy by Sri Lanka Cricket to restore competitiveness and rebuild confidence ahead of the 2026 event.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Ireland on February 8. In the group stage, they will also face teams including Australia, Oman, and Zimbabwe, making early momentum crucial.
With Malinga’s guidance, Sri Lanka will hope their pace attack can rise to the challenge and provide the cutting edge needed at the highest level.
As preparations intensify, Malinga’s return to the national setup is viewed as a timely boost, combining legacy, experience, and modern T20 expertise as Sri Lanka looks to re-establish itself on the global stage.
