Chamara Silva Takes the Helm as Head Coach of Sri Lanka U19 Team
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Synopsis
Chamara Silva has been appointed head coach of Sri Lanka's U19 Men’s team by Sri Lanka Cricket. His role includes preparing the team for the ICC U19 World Cup in 2026, set to occur in Zimbabwe and Namibia, with his tenure effective from March 1 until the end of 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Chamara Silva appointed as head coach of the Sri Lanka U19 team.
- Focus on ICC U19 World Cup preparation.
- Effective from March 1 until 2026.
- Previously played for Sri Lanka with notable ODI World Cup performances.
- Experienced coach with a strong domestic background.
Colombo, March 25 (NationPress) Chamara Silva, a former cricketer, has been named the head coach for Sri Lanka's U19 Men’s team, as announced by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Tuesday. Silva's primary role will be to prepare the Sri Lanka U19 squad for the ICC U19 World Cup in 2026, which is set to take place in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
This appointment, effective from March 1 through the conclusion of 2026, aims to get the team ready for next year’s ICC Men’s U19 World Cup, featuring 16 competing teams in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The top ten teams from the last edition have automatically qualified, along with hosts Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka has already secured its place, joining Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, and West Indies. The remaining five spots will be filled through regional qualifiers.
The 45-year-old coach brings a wealth of experience from Sri Lanka’s domestic cricket scene. He holds an ICC Level III coaching qualification and has previously held the position of head coach at Police Sports Club, along with coaching stints at Bloomfield Cricket Club and Panadura Sports Club.
As a player, Silva represented Sri Lanka in 11 Tests, 75 ODIs, and 16 T20Is from 1999 to 2011, with his last international game being a T20I against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in November 2011, just two days after his final ODI.
He contributed to Sri Lanka’s runner-up finishes in the 2007 and 2011 ODI World Cups, scoring 77 runs in four innings in 2011 and achieving four half-centuries, including three consecutive in 2007. His last Test appearance was in 2008, following an impressive debut in New Zealand in 2006-07, where he scored 61 and an unbeaten 152.
Silva also participated in the 2007 and 2009 T20 World Cups, with Sri Lanka finishing as runners-up in the latter after falling to Pakistan in the final.
In 2017, SLC imposed a two-year ban on him due to his alleged involvement in a first-class match that had irregular scoring patterns. His latest domestic appearance was last month when he played for Police Sports Club against Ace Capital Cricket Club in a Major League Tournament match in Colombo.
