Englishman Paul Farbrace, who was wounded in the infamous 2009 shooting attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team's bus, has been appointed the head coach of the Sri Lankan national side.
The 46-year-old, who has been recently coaching his former English county side Yorkshire, is replacing South African Graham Ford who had already announced plans to stand down after an ongoing series against Pakistan.
Farbrace, a former assistant coach to the Sri Lankan team under Trevor Bayliss, was wounded along with seven Sri Lankan players in March 2009 when a dozen gunmen opened fire on their bus in Lahore, Pakistan.
He left his post soon after the attack, in which he was struck by a piece of shrapnel in his right arm.
His first assignment will be at the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in February. He will then coach the team at the next World Twenty20, which is also due to be held in Bangladesh in March-April.
Ford's last assignment with Sri Lanka will be the ongoing series of three Tests, five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 games against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.
Under Ford, Sri Lanka were runners-up to the West Indies in the World Twenty20 in 2012 and also won a home Test series against Pakistan.
