Former batsman Sanath Jayasuriya has been named Sri Lanka's new chairman of selectors.

Jayasuriya is a member of parliament for the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance, and was a late addition to the list of nominees sent to sports minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage by Sri Lanka Cricket. His tenure will begin on Friday.

Former fast bowlers Pramodya Wickramasinghe and Eric Upashantha and erstwhile batsmen Chaminda Mendis and Hemantha Wickramaratne have also been appointed to the five-man panel.

Wickramaratne is the only selector to receive a second consecutive term, after serving under Jayasuriya's predecessor, Ashantha de Mel.

"I am looking forward to start a new journey with young talent to steer Sri Lanka cricket to the winning streak without hurting anyone," Jayasuriya told the Daily News on Tuesday.



The hard-hitting left-hander played 110 Tests, 445 ODIs and 31 T20Is during a 20-year career before retiring in 2011.