Sanath Jayasuriya set for contract extension as Sri Lanka men's head coach

Former legend Sanath Jayasuriya is poised to have his contract as the men's head coach of the Sri Lankan cricket team extended for another year, following a series of impressive performances under his leadership.

Since taking on the role in early July as interim coach, the 55-year-old has led the team to notable victories, including a one-day international series win against India and a Test match triumph at The Oval, alongside another Test victory in Galle against New Zealand.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had opened the search for a permanent head coach after Chris Silverwood's departure in late June. However, with both the Test and ODI sides showing significant improvement under Jayasuriya, SLC is now moving forward with plans to secure his services on a longer-term basis.

"We are in the final stages of negotiating the contract with him," board CEO Ashley de Silva told ESPNcricinfo. "Probably in the next two or three days you will get to hear more."

Initially hired as a cricket consultant in December last year, Jayasuriya was primarily focused on the High Performance Centre. His involvement with the national team grew when he accompanied them to the T20 World Cup earlier this year, eventually leading to his appointment as head coach.

Despite experiencing setbacks, including a T20I series loss to India and two Test defeats in England, the successes have overshadowed these challenges. Currently, Sri Lanka is in contention for a spot in the World Test Championship final, and his next contract will extend beyond the current cycle.

Feedback from players has been overwhelmingly positive. Angelo Mathews, the senior-most player in the Test side, hailed Jayasuriya's appointment as a "turning point" for the team.

"Sanath Jayasuriya was superb as cricket director and now as coach," he said. "He communicates well and has given us a lot of freedom. We are all working towards one goal, and now everyone is on the same page. He's also done a superb job grooming the players. He has been amazing. I wish him all the very best."

The former Sri Lankan legend has previously held the role of chief selector on two separate occasions, but these tenures were marked by underwhelming performances from the men's team. However, his current role has brought a new sense of stability and direction to the squad.