Sripali Weerakkody retires from international cricket

Sripali Weerakkody, the Sri Lanka Women’s Cricket Team fast bowler, yesterday announced her retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. The 34-year-old played 89 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 58 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) while picking up 89 international wickets across formats. 

Weerakkody’s last international fixture was against Bangladesh in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s T20 World Cup contest in Gros Islet in the West Indies in 2018. She draws the curtains on a 14-year long international career, which began in Jaipur, India with the game against Pakistan in 2006. 
“I have decided to call it a day. So, I feel this is the right time for me. The decision to retire was a personal decision,” she said. 

Her best figures in ODIs came against the West Indies in Dambulla in 2013 where she picked up three for 19 in Sri Lanka’s win. In 2012, she had picked up three for 23 - her best figures - in a T20I match against the West Indies. 

• I have decided to call it a day. So, I feel this is the right time for me. The decision to retire was a personal decision

Last month, Sripali became Sri Lanka’s first Women’s cricketer to qualify as a Master and Fitness Trainer in Australia where she received the certificate from the Australian Institute of Fitness.   She was also a very useful low-order batter having accumulated a total of 722 runs in ODIs. In addition, she was a member of the Kandyan Ladies’ Club, Slimline Sports Club and later she joined Colts CC and has also completed a Level-2 coaching course. 

(Agencies)