T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka Cricket appoint Mumbai Indians coach Mahela Jayawardene as consultant for first round

Colombo: Sri Lankan batting great Mahela Jayawardene has been roped in as the consultant of the country’s national team for the first round of the upcoming T20 World Cup in UAE and Oman. The decision by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been taken keeping in mind Jayawardene’s tremendous track record with Mumbai Indians and his ready-made inputs post-Indian Premier League stint with most of the top international stars on the same UAE tracks where the T20 World Cup will be played. Additionally, Jayawardene will also act as a consultant and a mentor for the U-19 side after his stint with the senior squad in the build-up to the ICC U-19 World Cup in West Indies. [caption id=“attachment_9996141” align=“alignnone” width=“640”] Mahela Jayawardene head coach of the Mumbai Indians during match 30 of the Vivo Indian Premier League between the CHENNAI SUPER KINGS and the MUMBAI INDIANS held at the Dubai International Stadium in the United Arab Emirates on the 19th September 2021
Photo by Arjun Singh / SPORTZPICS for BCCI[/caption] His tenure with the national side will last for a period of seven days between 16-23 October while his role with the Under 19 team will be for five months, the ICC said on Friday. He will join up with the national side after the conclusion of the IPL, where he is currently doing duty as the head coach of Mumbai Indians. On his appointment, a statement by the Sri Lankan Cricket Board CEO Ashley De Silva read: “We are very happy to welcome Mahela into his new roles, as his presence with the Sri Lanka Team and the U19 Team is going to help the players immensely.” “From his playing days, Mahela was respected for the vast cricketing knowledge he brought into the game, first as a player, then as a Captain, now as a Coach for different teams.” During an illustrious career for Sri Lanka, Jayawardene represented his national side in 149 Tests, 448 ODIs and 55 T20Is. He finished as Sri Lanka’s second-highest scorer in Test cricket with 11814 runs, 34 centuries and 50 half-centuries. Compatriot Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 12400 remains the country’s best in the traditional format.