Sanga to announce retirement

20 November 2014 11:58 pm - 42 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Cricket superstar Kumar Sangakkara will officially announce his retirement from all forms of international cricket today, sources told Daily Mirror.

One of Sri Lanka’s most illustrious cricketers and statistically the best international batsman the country had ever produced will play no more international cricket after the ICC World Cup which would be played in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29 next year.

Sources said the former Sri Lanka captain had conveyed his decision to the national selectors when he met them at a special meeting on Wednesday. A national selector however, denied such a meeting had taken place.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) sources said Sangakkara’s manager had intimated the 37-year-old left hander’s decision to SLC officials and a media release was expected to be issued last night.

This means that Sri Lanka’s forthcoming ODI series against England which will feature seven matches from November 26 to December 16 would be the last time Sangakkara will be seen at an international match on home soil.

There has been a lot of speculation about Sangakkara’s retirement, but it was not clear if the extremely popular player had also announced his retirement on yesterday’s CNN’s Talk Asia programme which featured him.

Earlier in March this year during the ICC World T20 in Bangladesh, Sangakkara told the media that he would retire from all forms of the international game after the 2015 World Cup.

"As far as ODI and Test cricket are concerned, it's hard to give a timeframe. I am 36 years old now and will be 37 next year during the time of the World Cup. At the next World Cup, I will be 41 and I don't hope that I will be playing then. So the 2015 World Cup will be my last. It's a kind of natural progression," Sangakkara said in Dhaka.

"For Test cricket; form, fitness and enjoyment factors must be there for you to continue. There is no denying I am in the twilight of my career," he added.

In August during the second and final Test against Pakistan at the SSC where his best friend Mahela Jayawardene retired from Test cricket, Sangakkara made an extended salute to the fans when going back to the pavilion after playing his innings, which immediately sparked speculation that it was also Sangakkara’s final Test.

Sangakkara was quick to alleviate the fears after the match, but now that innings has proved to be the last Test innings he played on home soil.

"We won't be playing Test cricket in Sri Lanka for a long time from now until probably June," he said. "Waving the bat was just…. I didn't have anything in mind. There are two one-day series in Sri Lanka and the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. After the World Cup I will take a decision about my future, after speaking to the national selectors," Sangakkara said after that match.

Sri Lanka will play two away Test matches against New Zealand in December and January prior to the World Cup.

Sources said Sangakkara however, will play in overseas domestic tournaments including at least three more seasons of county cricket in England.
Incidentally, it was the Daily Mirror, which first accurately predicted the retirement plans of Sangakkara and Jayawardene in an exclusive article published on February 26 this year titled, “Six top guns to retire within a year.” (Channaka de Silva)

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Comments - 42

willows Friday, 21 November 2014 03:31 PM

it is high time you lend your you man service to the country now, back the Hon. Mr. m SIRSENA.

Arun Friday, 21 November 2014 12:11 PM

is it for true??.. it does seem like a fake news to me...

Nelum Pushpasirii Friday, 21 November 2014 12:18 PM

You have done enumerators tasks for the country and for the cricket world.Thanks Lot Snaga Thanks.

firdous Friday, 21 November 2014 12:49 PM

yes you are correct, but you can continue to play test cricket for another couple of years or so

rohan Friday, 21 November 2014 12:50 PM

sanga you should stay in cricket until you reach to 39.....that is the age for retirement for best players..remember misbah ul haq playing wonderful cricket at 41...

wb7212 Friday, 21 November 2014 12:55 PM

You can 100% play for 2 years more after the world cup.

SL cricket fan Friday, 21 November 2014 01:26 PM

Dear SangaYou are one of most inspired cricketer in the current context. Age will not matter. You have the strength to play more years and i am sure you can set records in Cricket for long time. Do not give mate at this time. Not only SL cricket, the international cricket want you to play more years. You have reached a certain distance you need to move further. Hence stay at least till next WC.

Ahmed Friday, 21 November 2014 01:51 PM

Hope we win the world cup for both SANGA

Upali Gooneratne Friday, 21 November 2014 02:54 PM

Sanga, It has been a treat to watch you bat as well as how you conduct your self at Interviews. Wish you all the best for your future endeavors. Sincerely hope you go on to represent Sri Lanka at the ICC. Please do not ever dream to enter politics which will just ruin the good stature you have created in the minds of the Cricket loving public of Sri Lanka.Sad to loose you but a BIG THANK YOU for what you have done for Sri Lankan Cricket.

Tharindu Friday, 21 November 2014 02:57 PM

Sanga can play test matches. Please we need him for test. dnt wanna miss his classic shots.

azmir ariff Friday, 21 November 2014 03:11 PM

Heart breaking news..

Chandra Friday, 21 November 2014 12:01 PM

All good things eventually come to an end, a fact of life. All Sri Lankans should be proud of this sportsman on and off the field.

Sampath Friday, 21 November 2014 03:48 PM

Kindly requesting to play cricket few more year... U may not b fit as u were earlier...But clearly u r the only one who can play good cricket at the moment.

Umesha Piyumali Friday, 21 November 2014 04:23 PM

good luck sanga

Farhan Friday, 21 November 2014 05:21 PM

He should continue Test cricket till 40y. like misba

Asitha kaluwamodara Friday, 21 November 2014 06:25 PM

Srilanka cricket great lion our sanga we wish you this world cup also. Final match player of the match and you can bring icc wc with our team our great srilanka.good luck. You are our sl cricket great legend

Jays Friday, 21 November 2014 06:25 PM

Hats of mate.you are the legend and thanks for entertaining us Sanga.we are with you.

raj gupta Friday, 21 November 2014 06:53 PM

legend never retire

Nawaz Dawood Friday, 21 November 2014 07:50 PM

Thank you for your services. But remember you are not the only cricketer in the world. After all you did not play for Sri Lanka for free.

Kamar Friday, 21 November 2014 08:43 PM

Dear Sanga, you are man of the hour. Your contribution should continue beyond cricket. We need honest and uncorrupted people like you in politics to rescue our homeland. You can definitely unite the country and bring all communities together. We expect you to step in and back the common ccandidate.

Bhagye pramod Saturday, 22 November 2014 04:18 PM

Ohhhh nooooo....

Daya Friday, 21 November 2014 09:23 AM

Gentleman way to say adios.

Adrian Friday, 21 November 2014 07:03 AM

He can play test cricket for a year via DM Android App

Mahen Muttiah Friday, 21 November 2014 07:05 AM

Good luck Sanga

Nihal Amarasekera Friday, 21 November 2014 07:18 AM

RETIRED HURT????

hari Friday, 21 November 2014 07:24 AM

well plyed sanga.we saute you for your enoumas contribution to srilankan cricket.

saliyau Friday, 21 November 2014 08:09 AM

Sanga should stay till the next world cup.His retirement before that would be disastrous for Lanka

Sanga Friday, 21 November 2014 08:31 AM

Common candidate mate!

usoof Friday, 21 November 2014 08:43 AM

sanga you are legend. the true legend cannot be substitute. Nevertheless do not follow what murali did

kums Friday, 21 November 2014 08:47 AM

What a collape

DN Friday, 21 November 2014 08:58 AM

I feel the main reason for retirement of senior players are not just the fitness. It is the chief selector and the political interference.

shafran Friday, 21 November 2014 09:20 AM

Legend!!! My love ?. Please play test till 2016

nasrullah_beruwala Friday, 21 November 2014 06:57 AM

good move sanga! wait u can re-entry in our next new government!!

raj Friday, 21 November 2014 09:36 AM

Read the article again. He is retiring after the 2015 world cup

kamala Friday, 21 November 2014 10:32 AM

A brilliant personality in every aspect. God Bless!

Kewin Friday, 21 November 2014 10:38 AM

Take up politicsBe the opposition candidate for the presidencyMan of the hour

Sanath Friday, 21 November 2014 10:44 AM

Go for the Common Candidate and rescue Lanka to create fair play.

daya s Friday, 21 November 2014 10:57 AM

thank you for ur contribution for cricket and also as an ambassador for the country

chux Friday, 21 November 2014 11:14 AM

Sanga you still can play some quality test cricket...but iditotic politically appointed admnistrataors hurt you a lot.But the entire nation is with you mate...

sobers Friday, 21 November 2014 11:26 AM

One of the most qualified, proved and accepted candidate among all communities to be the president ofSrilanka.

shamika Friday, 21 November 2014 11:45 AM

ohhhhh my gord

clueless Friday, 21 November 2014 11:58 AM

I dont thik so. At 37 years time is catching up. Lets give him a deserving send off.

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Sanga to announce retirement

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