Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has appointed Lasith Malinga, one of their greatest bowlers in white-ball cricket, as Consultant – Fast Bowling Coach for the national men’s team on a short one-month term. This appointment is aimed at supporting the team’s preparations for the upcoming Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and India.
Malinga, known for his unique sling action, has represented Sri Lanka in 30 Tests, 226 One-Day Internationals, and 84 Twenty20 Internationals, claiming 101, 338, and 107 wickets in each format, respectively. He was a pivotal member of the Sri Lanka team that won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2014 in Bangladesh and finished as runners-up twice — in 2009 in England and in 2012 at home. Additionally, he was a runner-up in the 50-over World Cup in both 2007 and 2011.
“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of Lasith Malinga as the Consultant – Fast Bowling Coach for the National Men’s Team. His appointment is on a short-term basis for a period of one month, effective from December 15 to January 25, 2026,” the SLC mentioned in a release.
“Malinga will support the preparation and development of Sri Lanka’s national fast bowlers as part of the build-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” the release added.
The SLC aims to leverage Malinga’s vast international experience and notable expertise in death bowling, particularly in T20 cricket, to strengthen the team’s preparations for the upcoming World Cup.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, is set to commence on February 7, 2026, with the opening match scheduled to take place at the SSC in Colombo.
The 42-year-old Malinga brings extensive experience in T20 cricket, having played franchise cricket globally in addition to international matches. He has represented the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Inddigihunt from 2008 to 2017 and again from 2019 to 2020. Malinga has also played for Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League, Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League, Dhaka Gladiators, Rangapur Riders, and Khulna Titans in the Bangladesh Premier League, as well as Ruhana Royals and Southern Express in the domestic Sri Lanka Premier League.