Former Sri Lanka player Pubudu Dassanayake appointed as new head coach of USA cricket team
Pubudu Dassanayake
, former Sri Lanka and Canada international, has been appointed as the new head coach of the
USA men's cricket team
, replacing
Stuart Law
who departed after leading the team in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup co-hosted with the West Indies.
This marks Dassanayake's second stint as USA's head coach, having previously served from 2016 to 2019, during which he helped the team achieve ODI status and establish themselves in international cricket.
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The 54-year-old coach brings significant experience, having recently held head coach responsibility with Nepal and Canada. Under his guidance, Canada secured their first T20 World Cup appearance last year in the USA and West Indies.
"It's an honour to return and lead the USA Men's National Team. I'm proud of what we accomplished during my previous time here, and I see tremendous potential in this group to reach even greater heights," Dassanayake said.
Unmukt Chand Exclusive: Why he moved to the USA, playing in T20 leagues and ambitions
"I look forward to working closely with the players and staff to continue building something meaningful for
USA Cricket
," said the 54-year-old.
With the USA already qualified for next year's T20 World Cup in India, Dassanayake aims to build upon his previous success and lead the team in the global tournament. As a player, Dassanayake represented Sri Lanka in 11 Tests and 16 ODIs during the late 1990s before relocating to Canada, where he continued his cricket career playing for the Canadian national team.
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The appointment comes after Stuart Law, the former Australia batter, left his position as head coach following the USA's participation in the T20 World Cup they co-hosted with the West Indies.
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