Sri Lanka couldn’t win any of their Group 2 Super 8 fixtures, leaving Jayasuriya disappointed.
Sri Lanka head coach Sanath Jayasuriya has decided to step down from his position following the team’s dismal show in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
The announcement came shortly after Sri Lanka completed their Super 8 campaign with a narrow five-run loss to Pakistan in Pallekele. The tournament co-hosts couldn’t win any of their Group 2 Super 8 fixtures, leaving the fans disappointed.
Jayasuriya said he felt it was time to hand over the role to someone else and had already decided during the England series earlier that he would not continue for long.
"I thought I should give that title to someone else. That's why I mentioned two months ago during the England series that I have no plans staying here. So, I said that after taking that decision. I thought from the World Cup, I would be able to leave here as the coach in a good note. I couldn't do that as much as I thought. I feel sorry about that," the former Sri Lankan captain said, as quoted by the ICC website.
Jayasuriya further stated that he will have formal discussions with Sri Lanka Cricket in the coming days
"My contract ends in June. I have not given my official decision or anything to Sri Lanka Cricket. I have to go and discuss with them. Have to talk about what do I have to do," he added.
Coming to the match, Pakistan posted a formidable 212/8 in 20 overs, thanks to Sahibzada Farhan’s century (100 off 60 balls) and Fakhar Zaman’s 42-ball 84.
As soon as Sri Lanka reached 148 in the chase, they knocked Pakistan out of the semifinals race. While the 2009 champions went on to win the game and tied on 3 points with New Zealand but remained below the Blackcaps on Net Run Rate.
During the chase, Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka played a blinder – 76* off 31 balls - which included a four and a hat-trick of sixes off Shaheen Afridi in the final over, but he failed to take his side home.