Sri Lanka Cricket appoints Lasith Malinga as interim fast bowling consultant ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

Published - 30 Dec 2025, 17:21 IST | Updated - 30 Dec 2025, 17:47 IST

Ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Sri Lanka Cricket has appointed former pacer Lasith Malinga as the fast bowling consultant for the national men’s team.

Malinga’s appointment is on a short-term basis, effective from December 15, 2025, to January 25, 2026. During this one-month stint, the legendary fast bowler will work closely with Sri Lanka’s national fast bowlers ahead of the T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on February 7, 2026.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will kick off with the opening match at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo. With home conditions expected to play an important role, SLC has opted to bring in Malinga’s vast international experience, particularly his expertise in death bowling.

In an official statement, Sri Lanka Cricket stated the reason behind the decision, stating that Malinga’s role will be instrumental in enhancing the effectiveness of the country’s fast bowlers, especially in the shortest format of the game.

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The legendary pacer represented Sri Lanka in 84 T20 Internationals, claiming 107 wickets, including a best of 5 for 6. He was also a crucial member of Sri Lanka’s victorious 2014 T20 World Cup squad, where they defeated MS Dhoni-led India in the final to lift the title. Meanwhile, Malinga is an IPL icon, having taken 170 wickets in 122 matches for the Mumbai Indians. He is currently associated with the five-time IPL champions as their bowling coach.

Notably, co-hosts Sri Lanka have been placed in Group B of the T20 World Cup alongside Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Oman. They will begin their campaign on February 8 against Ireland at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Ahead of the tournament, the team is also scheduled to play a three-match T20I series against Pakistan in January.