Sri Lankan bowler Nuwan Kulasekara retires from international cricket

Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Kulasekara has announced retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. The 37-year old right-arm bowler was not a part of the 2019 World Cup and last played in national colours two years ago. His announcement comes days after Lasith Malinga’s decision to retire from ODI cricket.

Making his ODI debut as a 21-year old, Kulasekara began his ODI career in 2003. He was later drafted in Sri Lanka’s Test and T20I side as well. In 2017, he went out of the favour and was not selected for the national team again. He retires with the experience of 21 Tests, 184 ODIs and 58 T20Is. He ends with 48 Test scalps, 199 ODI wickets and 66 T20I wickets.

Known for his ability to swing the ball both ways, the medium-pacer was Sri Lanka’s strike-bowler. His personal achievement was becoming the number one ODI bowler in 2009. He was a part of the T20 World Cup-winning side in 2014. He also featured in two ODI World Cup finals but ended up as a runner-up in both campaigns of 2007 and 2011. It was Kulasekara who bowled the final ball of the 2011 World Cup final which MS Dhoni deposited for a six.