Legendary pacer Lasith Malinga is back in the Sri Lankan setup—but this time off the field. The 42-year-old has been appointed as a consultant fast bowling coach to guide the team in their preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed Malinga’s short-term assignment, effective 15th December 2025 to 25th January 2026, as the island nation gears up to co-host the global event from February 7, 2026.
Having led Sri Lanka to a historic T20 World Cup title in 2014 against India, Malinga brings a wealth of experience and insight into the art of fast bowling, especially in high-pressure situations. Known for his trademark slingy action and death bowling mastery, he has been mentoring T20 franchise teams across the globe since retiring from all forms of cricket in 2021.
Malinga’s familiarity with Sri Lanka’s bowling attack isn’t new. He served as a strategy coach in 2022, and now the team will rely on his guidance to sharpen their pace attack ahead of the World Cup.
Sri Lanka are drawn in Group B alongside Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Oman. Their campaign kicks off with a clash against Ireland on February 8 at the R Premadasa International Stadium, Colombo. In the lead-up, Sri Lanka will host home series against Pakistan and England, giving Malinga ample opportunity to mold the squad.
Fans and cricket experts alike will be watching closely to see how the presence of this T20 legend impacts Sri Lanka’s performance on home soil. With his track record, Malinga could be the secret weapon Sri Lanka needs to make a deep run in the 2026 edition.
