Sri Lanka Cricket has roped in former captain Lasith Malinga, the man who led the island nation to their historic ICC Men’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2014, as a consultant coach ahead of the 2026 edition of the tournament, according to an official announcement by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
As reported by ICC, Malinga will work closely with the national setup in a short-term consultancy role, lending his vast experience to Sri Lanka’s bowling group as the team builds towards the global event to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka next year.
One of the most feared fast bowlers in T20 history, Malinga remains Sri Lanka’s highest wicket-taker in the format and is widely credited for redefining death-over bowling. His return to the national fold is seen as a strategic move to sharpen Sri Lanka’s edge in high-pressure situations.
Malinga had captained Sri Lanka to their maiden T20 World Cup title in 2014, defeating India in the final in Dhaka, and his presence is expected to provide both tactical insight and leadership support to a relatively young squad.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will feature 20 teams, with Sri Lanka placed in Group B alongside Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman, as per ICC tournament details.
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