Rumesh Ratnayake named Sri Lanka's interim coach for Zimbabwe series

Former fast bowler Rumesh Ratnayake has been appointed the Sri Lanka men's national side's interim coach for their three-ODI series against Zimbabwe, later this month. Sri Lanka have been without a head coach since Mickey Arthur's contract ended on December 4. Ratnayake will be assisted by former first-class batter Ruwin Peiris, who will be with the team as interim batting coach.

Ratnayake has taken on the role of interim coach before, usually when the team was in between permanent appointments. He has also repeatedly served as the side's bowling coach. His current permanent role with SLC is as fast bowling coach at the high-performance centre. Peiris, meanwhile, is also presently a coach attached to the high performance centre.

Mahela Jayawardene, who was recently appointed as consultant coach to all the national sides, is unlikely to be part of the men's senior side's backroom during the Zimbabwe series, as he will be with the Sri Lanka men's Under-19 side, for their World Cup campaign in the Caribbean.

Zimbabwe's tour of Sri Lanka runs from January 16 to January 21. Sri Lanka's next major assignments are the T20I tour of Australia, in mid-February, closely followed by a two-Test tour of India. The board is expected to have named a permanent head coach by then.