Kumar Sangakkara has said he could retire from one-day internationals after the World Cup next year. The former Sri Lankan captain quit T20 Internationals after seeing his side through to victory against India in the final of the ICC World T20 earlier this month.
“That (the 2015 World Cup) might be my last assignment in that form of the game, and looking at Test cricket, there might be another series left in me,” Sangakkara was quoted as saying by AFP.
“It depends on the chat I’ll have with the selectors and the authorities back home. I’ll be 37 at the end of this year, and I’m fully aware that it’s fast-approaching the time when either you go, or you are asked to leave.”
Sangakkara, who has been one of Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketing icons for over a decade, amassed 12500 runs from 369 games at an average of 40.45 and is fourth on the list of the highest run-getters in the format, only behind Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Sanath Jayasuriya.
The stylish left-hander also led the island nation to the final of the 2011 World Cup, and was part of the 2007 side that had reached the World Cup final in the West Indies besides featuring in three World T20 finals in 2009, 2012 and 2014.
Sangakkara said he still enjoys playing for Sri Lanka and was grateful for the opportunities he got through his career. “I still enjoy playing, and wearing the Sri Lankan shirt,” he added.
An impressive aggregate of 11,151 runs puts the left-hander ninth on the all-time list of Test run scorers, with an average in excess of 58 in what has been a prolific career.
“There’s still a huge enjoyment factor that comes with playing. As players, we’re been very, very lucky. It’s a high-paid job that allows you to travel the world and earn a living playing outdoors. I can’t really complain.”
Sangakkara has been one of the most outspoken cricketers to have emerged from Sri Lanka and has often taken on his cricket board over what he thought were inadequacies in management.
Sangakkara is currently with reigning English County champions Durham on a two-and-a-half week contract ahead of Sri Lanka’s upcoming series in the UK.
