Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the appointment of former pace spearhead Lasith Malinga as Consultant Fast Bowling Coach for the Sri Lanka National Men’s Team, in a move aimed at strengthening preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Malinga’s appointment will be on a short-term basis, spanning a one-month period from 15 December to 25 January 2026. During this time, he will work closely with Sri Lanka’s national fast bowlers, focusing on preparation, skill development, and tactical execution as the team builds toward the global T20 showpiece.
One of the most successful fast bowlers Sri Lanka has ever produced, Malinga brings a wealth of international experience to the role. Renowned worldwide for his unique bowling action and exceptional ability in death overs, Malinga played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s success in limited-overs cricket, particularly in the shortest format of the game. His expertise is expected to be invaluable as Sri Lanka sharpens its bowling resources ahead of the World Cup.

Sri Lanka Cricket stated that the decision to bring Malinga on board is part of a broader strategy to leverage his proven knowledge of T20 cricket, especially in high-pressure situations. His guidance will aim to enhance consistency, accuracy, and match-awareness among the fast bowlers, key areas that often determine outcomes in T20 cricket.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India, adding further significance to the preparation phase. The tournament is scheduled to begin on 7 February 2026, with the opening match set to be played at the iconic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo.

With home conditions playing a major role, Sri Lanka Cricket hopes Malinga’s involvement will provide the national side with a competitive edge as they prepare to compete against the world’s best teams on cricket’s biggest T20 stage.

Indian superstar Virat Kohli has overtaken Sri Lankan legend and current national head coach Sanath Jayasuriya in the list of most Player-of-the-Series awards in international cricket.

Kohli now moves to 12 series awards, surpassing Jayasuriya’s long-standing tally of 11, which placed the Sri Lankan great among the top performers in cricket history.

All-Time Most Player-of-the-Series Awards in International Cricket

• Sachin Tendulkar (India): 15 awards, 108 series, 1989–2012
• Virat Kohli (India): 12 awards, 76 series, 2008–2025
• Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka/Asia XI): 11 awards, 111 series, 1989–2011
• Shaun Pollock (South Africa/Africa XI/ICC): 9 awards, 60 series, 1996–2008
• Chris Gayle (West Indies/ICC): 8 awards, 71 series, 1999–2019

Despite being surpassed, Jayasuriya’s record — built across an illustrious career from 1989 to 2011 — remains a monumental achievement, highlighting his impact on world cricket as one of the most dominant all-round match-winners of his era.

Kohli’s latest milestone further strengthens his status as one of the modern game’s most consistent performers.

Rawalpindi, Nov. 27 – Sri Lanka mounted a remarkable comeback in the Pakistan T20I Tri-Series, defeating the hosts by 6 runs in a tense final league-stage encounter to secure their place in Saturday’s grand finale. The victory completes a spirited late surge from the Islanders, who began the series with two deflating defeats but responded with back-to-back wins to keep their title hopes alive.

Sri Lanka’s Road to the Final – From Early Struggles to Strong Recovery

Sri Lanka’s campaign began on the wrong foot, suffering a heavy 67-run defeat against Zimbabwe and a 7-wicket loss to Pakistan in their first two outings. Their batting struggled for rhythm, and the bowling failed to contain opposition top orders.

But the narrative shifted dramatically in the last two matches:

Match 5: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe – A Statement Win

• Zimbabwe: 146/5
• Sri Lanka: 148/1 (16.2 ov)
  Sri Lanka dominated with a 9-wicket win, powered by an authoritative chase that restored confidence ahead of the Pakistan clash.

Today’s Match: Sri Lanka Defend 184 in a Rawalpindi Thriller

Sri Lanka – 184/5 (20 ov)

A superb innings from Kavindu Mishara (50 off 34) anchored Sri Lanka’s approach, supported by contributions from Kusal Mendis, Janith Liyanage, and Kusal Perera. Partnerships were steady, with Sri Lanka crossing key milestones — 100 in 11.1 overs and 150 in 16.2 — setting up a competitive 184.

Pakistan – 178/7 (20 ov)

Pakistan’s innings was rocked early, reduced to 45/4 in the Powerplay, thanks to Sri Lanka’s fiery pace attack.
Dushmantha Chameera, later named Player of the Match, delivered when it mattered most.

Agha Salman (50 off 35) and Usman Khan attempted a rebuild with a 50-run partnership, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers held their nerve at the death.

Pakistan reviewed twice unsuccessfully in tense moments but ultimately fell short by 6 runs.

Series Summary So Far

Pakistan finished the league matches with 3 wins, Sri Lanka with 2, and Zimbabwe with 1.

Final: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka – What to Expect on Nov. 29

The final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is shaping up as a high-stakes rematch. Both teams have beaten each other once in the series, making this final evenly poised.

Pakistan Strengths

• Explosive top order (Babar not featured in league matches but expected for final)
• Strong seam attack at home conditions
• Ability to accelerate in middle overs

Sri Lanka Strengths

• Momentum after two consecutive victories
• Improved batting with stable partnerships
• A rejuvenated pace attack led by Chameera and a disciplined spin unit

Key Battles

• Sri Lanka openers vs Shaheen Afridi
• Agha Salman vs Hasaranga/slow bowlers
• Middle-overs match-up: Mendis vs Shadab Khan

Prediction: A Close Final, Momentum Favors Sri Lanka Slightly

With Rawalpindi offering good batting conditions under lights, a totals around 165–180 will be par.
Pakistan remain favorites at home, but Sri Lanka’s recent form gives them a genuine chance to upset the hosts. If Mishara, Mendis, or Liyanage fire again and Chameera continues his rhythm, Sri Lanka could edge Pakistan in a tight contest.

Predicted Winner (slight edge): Sri Lanka – if they bat first and defend with confidence.