Pallekele, Mar 1 (NationPress) Following Sri Lanka's close defeat to Pakistan in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup, head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has made the decision to resign from his position.

The Sri Lankan team failed to secure a place in the knockout rounds, suffering a third consecutive loss in the Super Eights, with Pakistan edging them out by three runs in Pallekele on Saturday.

Jayasuriya intends to meet with officials to discuss his future as the co-hosts reflect on a disappointing end to their ICC T20 World Cup journey.

"I felt it was time to pass the baton to someone else," Jayasuriya stated in the post-match press conference. "About two months ago, during the England series, I expressed doubts about my long-term prospects in this role. I had hoped to exit as coach on a high note at the World Cup, but unfortunately, I couldn't achieve that, and it saddens me."

Jayasuriya took over as coach shortly after the 2024 T20 World Cup, and despite his contract running until June, he has expressed a desire to leave the role sooner.

"My contract goes until June, but I haven't officially notified Sri Lanka Cricket yet. They are unaware of my intention to announce this. I need to discuss it with them, and if they find a suitable replacement, they should proceed with that."

Sri Lanka managed three victories in their initial group stage matches but were hindered by injuries to key players Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana, leading to a winless streak in the Super Eights.

"I believe we could have performed better for sure," Jayasuriya noted. "Playing in Sri Lanka provided many chances to reach the semi-finals, but sadly, we fell short. I firmly believe we should have done better."

"The inconsistency was evident. In some matches, the batting faltered; in others, the bowling did not deliver. To win games, both aspects must perform at a high level. Unfortunately, consistency eluded us, which was crucial. We need more reliability across all areas of the game."

During Jayasuriya’s leadership, Sri Lanka achieved their first ODI bilateral series victory against India in 27 years in August 2024, followed by a Test win at The Oval in September and a 2-0 home Test series win against New Zealand.

While the T20 World Cup results did not meet expectations, Jayasuriya is confident he made significant strides during his tenure.

"In the last one-and-a-half years, I elevated the team from a low point. In ODIs, we were ranked as low as eighth or ninth and didn't qualify for a Champions Trophy. Now, I've brought us to No. 4. The Test team is at No. 6, and the T20 team is also around sixth or seventh."

"I didn't achieve this alone. My support staff were instrumental in this journey. From the beginning, I sought their help, as my coaching experience was limited. However, my background in playing cricket allowed me to manage effectively."