Colombo: Sri Lankan batting great Mahela Jayawardene has been appointed as an advisor to the country’s national team for the first round of the upcoming T20 World Cup to be held in the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Sri Lanka’s decision Cricket (SLC) has been taken keeping in mind Jayawardene’s tremendous track record with Mumbai Indians and his ready inputs after the Indian Premier League with most of the top international stars on the UAE track where the T20 World Cup will be played.
Additionally, Jayawardene will also serve as an advisor and mentor to the Under-19 team following his stint with the senior team in the build-up to the ICC Under-19 World Cup in the West Indies. The ICC on Friday said that his tenure with the national team will be of seven days from October 16-23, while his role with the Under-19 team will be for five months.
He will join the national team after the conclusion of the IPL, where he is currently serving as the head coach of Mumbai Indians. On his appointment, Sri Lankan Cricket Board CEO Ashley de Silva read a statement: “We are very pleased to welcome Mahela to his new roles, as his presence with the Sri Lanka team and the U19 team is going to be of great help to the players. “From his playing days, Mahela was respected for the vast cricketing knowledge he brought to the game, first as a player, then as a captain, now as a coach for various 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 figure of 12400 is the country’s best in the traditional format.
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