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In a surprising turn of events, Sri Lanka’s head coach Chris Silverwood has tendered his resignation from the position, citing personal reasons. The announcement came as a shock to the cricketing world, given that Silverwood had been at the helm of the Sri Lankan team since April 2022.

Silverwood, who previously coached England, took charge of the Sri Lankan team with high hopes of transforming their fortunes on the international stage. Under his guidance, the team won the T20 Asia Cup in 2022 and made it to the final of the 2023 ODI Asia Cup. However, their performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup was less than stellar, as they finished ninth out of 10 teams.

The recent T20 World Cup was also a disappointment for Sri Lanka, as they failed to qualify for the Super Eight stage. This string of underwhelming performances might have contributed to Silverwood’s decision to step down.

Sri Lanka’s Head Coach Chris Silverwood Steps Down Citing Personal Reasons

In a statement released by Sri Lanka Cricket, Silverwood expressed his desire to spend more time with his family after being away from them for long periods. “Being an international coach means long periods away from loved ones. After lengthy conversations with my family and with a heavy heart, I feel it is now time for me to return home and spend some quality time together,” he said.

Silverwood thanked the players, coaches, backroom staff, and management of Sri Lanka Cricket for their support during his tenure. He also expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of Sri Lanka Cricket, saying, “It has been a real honour for me to be part of Sri Lanka Cricket, and I will be taking away many fond memories.”

The resignation of Chris Silverwood comes just a day after former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene resigned from his role as consultant coach following the team’s exit from the T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka Cricket has not yet announced a replacement for Silverwood. The team’s next major fixtures are the Tests in England, which start on August 21. It remains to be seen who will take the reins and lead the Sri Lankan team in this challenging series.

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