Lasith Malinga joins Sri Lanka backroom staff for Australia T20I series

Sri Lanka and Australia are due to contest a three-match T20I series later in June

Lasith Malinga has joined Sri Lanka’s backroom staff ahead of the side’s T20I series against Australia.

The two sides are due to contest a three-match T20I series later this month, with the first fixture scheduled for June 7 in Colombo.

Malinga will serve as the side’s bowling strategy coach, a role he previously occupied when Sri Lanka travelled to Australia earlier this year, and is tasked with providing "tactical insight and technical expertise to help the on-field execution of strategic plans."

^{The two sides met in Australia back in February [Quinn Rooney/Getty Images]}

During his playing career, the 38-year-old made 84 T20I appearances for Sri Lanka, taking 107 wickets and posting an economy of 7.42. Only Shakib Al Hasan (119) and Tim Southee (111) have taken more T20I wickets than the fast bowler.

He has previously served as a bowling mentor at Mumbai Indians during the 2018 Indian Premier League and was Rajasthan Royals’ fast-bowling coach in 2022.

In a statement, Sri Lanka Cricket said: "Sri Lanka Cricket is confident that Malinga’s vast experience and renowned death-bowling expertise, especially in the T20 format, will help the team immensely going into this all-important series."

Following the T20I series, Sri Lanka and Australia will complete a five-match ODI series, splitting the matches between Kandy and Colombo, and a two-match Test series.

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