Reports: More Sri Lanka cricketers to retire ahead of South Africa series

It has been a while since Sri Lanka cricket is in turmoil and the problem doesn’t seem to be solving anytime soon. While the national team hasn’t tasted much success in the past few years, the introduction of a new grading system has worsened the case. As per the new point-based grading system, players are being handed contracts on the basis of their fitness, experience, performance in international and domestic cricket.

Many senior Sri Lankan players including Dimuth Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews didn’t find this new contract system transparent and they expressed the same. It was even reported that these senior players have threatened the board to retire. While anyone these players didn’t make any such announcement, left-arm pacer Isuru Udana shocked one and all by announcing retirement from international cricket following the conclusion of the T20I series against India.

Sri Lanka Cricket likely to lose more players

Notably, Udana is just 33 and a lot of cricket is still left in him. Hence, many believe that his decision of hanging up boots was prompted by the new system. Islandcricket.lk has now reported that another leading Sri Lanka fast bowler is likely to retire ahead of the series against South Africa.

The report further claimed that one of the three players who were handed in a one-year ban by SLC for disciplinary breach in their previous England tour is also planning to retire from international cricket and migrate to U.S.A. For the unversed, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella are those three players who were found guilty of breaching the bio-secure bubble in the England tour.

These three cricketers have been vital cogs of the national team for a while. Hence, retirement of any among them would be a major blow for SLC. Amid this fuss, however, Sri Lankan team recently got a major reason to celebrate. They defeated Team India in the T20I series by 2-1 and that too with a depleted squad. This is certainly a major boost for them ahead of this year’s T20 World Cup in UAE.

Sri Lanka’s next assignment is a white-ball series against South Africa at home. The tour comprises three ODIs and as many T20Is, starting from September 2. The hosts would certainly like to extend their winning run but upsetting the Proteas side would take some beating.