Lanka de Silva named Sri Lanka women interim head coach

Lanka de Silva, the former Sri Lankan Test wicketkeeper, has been made interim head coach of Sri Lanka women, replacing Harsha de Silva.

He will be in charge until the end of the year while Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) searches for a long-term option. "Lanka de Silva is also free to apply for the role," SLC CEO Ashley de Silva said. Lanka has long been a coach within the Sri Lankan system, and recently worked with the men's Under-19 team.

Sri Lanka do not have any matches scheduled until the end of 2020, with the 2021 ODI World Cup Qualifiers, originally slated to be held in the country in July this year, pushed back by a year. Sri Lanka is likely to remain the host, with its team competing for one of the three remaining spots for the eight-team 50-over main event. With the World Cup itself now also postponed until 2022, the early part of next year has freed up as well.

SLC's decision not to persist with Harsha as head coach is understood to be down to Sri Lanka's poor performances under him. Sri Lanka lost each of their 19 matches in 2019, and only won their game against Bangladesh in this year's T20 World Cup.

The new coach will also be tasked with rebuilding parts of the team, with allrounders Shashikala Siriwardene and Sripali Weerakkody having retired over the past few months.