Mickey Arthur to be appointed Sri Lanka's head coach: report

E-Paper | April 24, 2026

Former Pakistan cricket team coach Mickey Arthur will take over as the head coach for Sri Lanka, ESPN Cricinfo reported on Tuesday.

According to ESPN Cricinfo, Arthur has agreed to a two-year contract with Sri Lanka, adding that a formal announcement will be made shortly.

Grant Flower, David Sacker and Shane McDermott will be joining Arthur's backroom staff as batting coach, bowling coach and fielding coach, respectively.

"They will all be joining on two-year contracts," Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) CEO Ashley De Silva confirmed to the website.

The move is meant to completely overhaul the Sri Lankan cricket team's coaching set up, reported ESPN Cricinfo.

In August, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had decided against renewing Arthur's contract as head coach. Following this, he had been released from his short-term Twenty20 contract with the New Zealand side Central Districts to pursue another job.

Arthur joined Pakistan in May 2016, leading them to a drawn Test series with England that lifted them to the top of the rankings. Pakistan also won the Champions Trophy in England in June 2017, raising their stock in limited-overs cricket.

However, Pakistan has wilted in Tests in the last two years, losing 2-0 to Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates in 2017. In all, Pakistan won 10 out of 28 Tests under Arthur, losing 17 and drawing one.

Pakistan have also struggled in ODIs in the last two years. Under Arthur, Pakistan won 29 of 66 ODIs, losing 34 with three no-results.

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Pakman

Dec 04, 2019 12:18pm

Excellent choice Sri Lanka, your team will go places, once Mickey works his magic.

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Majid

Dec 04, 2019 12:56pm

I am really happy and pleased for you. Good Luck and all the best.

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Shoaib

Dec 04, 2019 01:14pm

Mickey please come back. We are sorry. Love, The whole of Pakistan.

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No comments

Dec 04, 2019 01:30pm

Good luck Micky.. wish he was still at PCB. Sad day for a fan. His love and emotions for Pakistan were evident in every game.

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Tariq Rashid

Dec 04, 2019 01:35pm

He is a good coach and gentle human being.

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BAXAR

Dec 04, 2019 01:52pm

Who knows the inside politics of Pakistani cricket management better than him? He sure will exploit all his knowledge against them. He knows very well that the Pakistani management will be more concentrated against Karachi players than Sri Lankan players, just as they were during Australia tour.

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Huma

Dec 04, 2019 02:40pm

Sad PCB let go of Mickey Arthur and also the women teach coach Mark Coles. You are seeing the results of their departure in men’s cricket and soon will be seeing the same results in women’s cricket as well.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Dec 04, 2019 04:42pm

No doubt, there is no scarcity of jobs for true, trained, real, genuine and experienced professional coaches like him and others in his team.

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Jehangir Divecha

Dec 04, 2019 05:21pm

Very good choice by the Srilankan Cricket Board, Good Luck to Mickey's New Assignment.

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Rangarajan Raghavachari

Dec 04, 2019 06:33pm

Mickey was not a mouse for sure..?Unsung ,devoid of glamour and media glare he worked tirelessly for Pak cricket but was dumped without any thought by PCB looking for scapegoat!One,s loss is another's gain ? Where does this leave young Pak cricketers who need to be mentored,coached and nurtured..Real talent has to be sustained otherwise one match wonders like Fakhar Zaman will distract the focus and do long term harm !

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Waseem Sarwar

Dec 04, 2019 08:16pm

Wished Lahore Qalandars had signed him for the franchise. Lahore needs someone to discipline players and put them in line. All the best Micky but not against Pakistan.

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SugarTooth

Dec 04, 2019 09:11pm

Sri Lankan team standing expected to improve now.

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atif

Dec 04, 2019 09:20pm

Good Luck Mickey. Your passion for Pak cricket has been admirable.

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Desi

Dec 04, 2019 10:18pm

He knows all the weaknesses of Pakistani players. Expect another white wash at the hands of SriLanka. For Pakistani team to progress, Misbah needs to go. He is too defensive minded, he was a tuk tuk player and I bet he tells all batsmen to play defensively. Game has changed but Misbah still holds his defensive approach.

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Babu

Dec 04, 2019 10:19pm

We miss you Mickey! Best if luck!

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Jamal Soomro, Manjhan

Dec 04, 2019 10:33pm

It was a bad move to replace Mickey. He was doing the best he could under the circumstances. We simply do not have world-class cricketers left in the country and PSL is promoting flukes, not a real talent.

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Uvaraj

Dec 05, 2019 01:18am

We shouldn't blame the teacher. Students ability should be qutioned.

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asharbhai

Dec 05, 2019 01:27am

Sri Lanka is Smart. I think you made a good decision.

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Chris angel

Dec 05, 2019 04:59pm

No one's gonna blame sarfaraz for the loss