Former Sri Lankan cricketer Chamara Silva has been named the head coach of the Sri Lanka Under-19 men’s team. His tenure will run from March 2025 to December 2026, a period that includes the ICC Under-19 Men’s World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia next year.
Coaching Credentials and Domestic Experience
Silva brings extensive coaching experience from Sri Lanka’s domestic cricket scene. He holds an ICC Level III coaching certification and has previously served as the head coach of the Police Sports Club. His coaching career also includes stints with Bloomfield Cricket Club and Panadura Sports Club, where he worked on player development and team strategy.
International Cricket Career
Silva enjoyed a 12-year international career from 1999 to 2011, representing Sri Lanka in 11 Tests, 75 ODIs, and 16 T20Is. His final appearance for Sri Lanka was a T20I against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in November 2011, just two days after his last ODI match.
A key member of Sri Lanka’s World Cup squads, Silva played in the teams that finished runners-up in both the 2007 and 2011 ODI World Cups. While his contributions in the 2011 tournament were modest (77 runs in four innings), he delivered standout performances in 2007, scoring four half-centuries, including three consecutive fifties at the start of the competition.
In Test cricket, Silva made a memorable debut during Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand in 2006-07, scoring 61 and an unbeaten 152 in the series. His last Test appearance came in 2008.
Silva also featured in two T20 World Cups—in 2007 and 2009—with Sri Lanka finishing as runners-up to Pakistan in the 2009 edition.
Controversy and Return to Cricket
In 2017, Silva faced a two-year ban imposed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) due to his alleged involvement in match-fixing during a Tier B first-class match that raised concerns over unusual scoring rates. Despite the setback, he returned to domestic cricket and played his most recent match as recently as February 2025, representing Police Sports Club against Ace Capital Cricket Club in the Major League Tournament in Colombo.
Looking Ahead
Silva’s appointment signals a new chapter for Sri Lanka’s Under-19 team, as they prepare for the upcoming World Cup and other international challenges. His wealth of playing experience, combined with his domestic coaching background, is expected to play a vital role in shaping the next generation of Sri Lankan cricketers.
