Sri Lankan fast bowler, Suranga Lakmal, who had once led the Islanders has announced that he will be hanging his boots from all forms of the game after the upcoming tour of India. The 34-year-old Lakmal made his international debut in 2009 against India in Nagpur, a match Sri Lanka went on to win. His Test debut came within a year against West Indies in Colombo, while he made his T20Idebut against England in 2011.
In 2018, Suranga Lakmal went on to lead the Sri Lankan Test team and his tenure lasted for five matches. South Africa was defeated by the Sri Lankan team under his captaincy in the home series. Apart from this, he achieved the series-leveling win against the West Indies on the Caribbean lands.
The right-arm pacer has played 68 Tests in his career so far, which doesn’t include two more probable Test matches in India. He has so far scalped 168 Test wickets at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 72. In the 86 ODIs he has played, Suranga Lakmal has taken 109 wickets at an economy rate of over 5.
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In a retirement letter submitted to Sri Lanka Cricket, Sunga Lakmal wrote, “I’m indebted to Sri Lanka Cricket for giving me this astonishing opportunity and having faith in me to bring back my motherland honor as it has been an absolute pleasure to be associated with the board that shaped my professional life and also enriched my personal development.”
Former Sri Lanka Test Captain Suranga Lakmal has informed Sri Lanka Cricket that he will retire from all forms of International Cricket following the completion of the upcoming Sri Lanka Tour of India 2022https://t.co/ALi5H8H8vz
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) February 2, 2022
He further added, “I have nothing but the utmost respect for all my players, coaches, team managers, support staff, administrative staff, and all other support staff.”
Suranga Lakmal also picked a five-wicket haul at Port Elizabeth and became only the second Sri Lankan to have a fifer under his belt in South Africa.
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Talking about his retirement, Ashley de Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket said, “We take this opportunity to wish Lakmal the very best for his future endeavors, and look forward to seeing him perform for the country during the Sri Lanka Tour of India if the selectors consider him for the tour. Lakmal has been an excellent contributor for Sri Lanka Cricket and delivered some memorable spells during his national career, and his services will be remembered well.”
