Tag: Kumar Sangakkara

Sri Lanka’s legendary batter Kumar Sangakkara has been named to a Transformation Committee to run Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). 

The decision follows the government-led ouster of the SLC administration headed by Shammi Silva.

Sangakkara, one of Sri Lanka’s finest cricketers, is the most renowned name in the committee. He is joined by former cricketers Roshan Mahanama and the country’s maiden Test century-maker Sidath Wettimuny, along with several members of corporate, legal, and political backgrounds.

The head of the committee is a former member of parliament, Eran Wickramaratne — a politician from Sri Lanka’s main opposition party (Samagi Jana Balawegaya).

Following the announcement, Wickramaratne highlighted the committee’s objectives, including an overhaul of SLC’s governance framework.

“I am privileged to lead a nine-member committee of individuals with impeccable integrity and expertise,” Wickramaratne said.

“Our immediate priority is a total overhaul of the governance framework at SLC,” he continued. “The cornerstone of this effort will be the implementation of the new consitution, ensuring it serves as a robust, modern foundation for the sport.”

He also expressed confidence in bringing out the best in Sri Lankan players by providing them with top-tier facilities.

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“We will focus on establishing the structures, world-class facilities, and incentive models necessary to empower our national teams. Our goal is to enable our players to consistently deliver world-class performances and elevate Sri Lanka back to the top tier of international rankings.”

Among the members, Wettimuny and Prakash Schaffter bring prior administrative experience, having served on the 2015 interim committee. Avanthi Colombage from the corporate sector, is the only woman on the panel.

For the unversed, SLC is the country’s richest sporting body, but it has been plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

Sri Lanka made an early exit from the T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted with India in February–March. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to comment on the latest government-led changes.

The ICC has previously suspended Sri Lanka’s membership in November 2023, citing political interference in the running of the national board. The suspension was lifted at the end of January 2024, and Silva’s committee was restored. He subsequently won a fourth term uncontested as president.

SLC’s new committee members:

Eran Wickramaratne (politics/corporate)

Roshan Mahanama (cricket/corporate)

Kumar Sangakkara (cricket/business)

Sidath Wettimuny (cricket/corporate)

Prakash Schaffter (corporate/cricket)

Avanthi Colombage (corporate)

Thushira Radella (corporate)

Upul Kumarapperuma (law/politics)

Dinal Phillips (law)

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Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara opened up on the reports regarding him being the potential contender to become England’s white-ball head coach.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Sangakkara, alongside legendary all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was in contention to become England’s white-ball coach.

The former wicketkeeper batter, however, revealed that he was not approached by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) before terming it an “exciting prospect”.

“Well, I know [my name] has been mentioned for some reason, but there has not been any approach as such,” Sangakkara, a member of Sky Sports’ commentary team for The Hundred, told Britain’s PA news agency.

“I think the England white-ball job is an exciting prospect for anyone, but there are so many good candidates out there. I think Matthew Mott has done a really good job,” he added.

For the unversed, Kumar Sangakkara has worked with England’s white-ball captain Jos Buttler at Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

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He further backed Buttler to continue leading England in the limited-over formats.

“It is great that Jos Buttler is staying in that leadership role as the side progresses because it is a nice time from what the side is –- and was –- and how it wants to progress in the future,” he said.

“I think the decision making in the England camp has been spot on. I really love the leadership that Rob Key has provided…I think he has been a really smart, practical man, very commonsensical in terms of how he makes decisions and very forward-thinking in how he has set the vision for England cricket,” he added.

For the unversed, the ECB confirmed on Tuesday that Matthew Mott has stepped down as the national men’s white-ball head coach with immediate effect.

The decision follows England’s recent ICC T20 World Cup campaign, where the team was knocked out at the semi-final stage by eventual winners India.

Mott, who met with Rob Key, ECB’s Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, last week, will leave his role after two years in office.

Appointed in May 2022, the 50-year-old Mott enjoyed immediate success, leading the team to victory in the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia in the autumn of 2022.

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