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Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara acknowledges the crowd after scoring a double century during the second day of the second Test match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on February 5, 2014. (AFP)
Sri Lanka cricket great Kumar Sangakkara is to retire from all forms of the game after next year's World Cup.
The former Sri Lanka captain is expected to formally announce his decision on Friday, according to the Daily Mirror.
He had reportedly conveyed his decision when he met the national selectors at a special meeting on Wednesday.
One of Sri Lanka’s most illustrious cricketers and statistically the best international batsman the country had ever produced will play no more international cricket after the ICC World Cup which would be played in Australia and New Zealand from February 14 to March 29 next year.
Sangakkara’s manager had intimated the 37-year-old left hander’s decision to Sri Lanka Cricket officials, the newspaper report added.
His imminent retirment means Sri Lanka’s forthcoming seven-match one-day series against England from November 26 to December 16 would be the last time Sangakkara will be seen at an international match on home soil.
Earlier in March this year during the ICC World T20 in Bangladesh, Sangakkara told the media that he would retire from all forms of the international game after the 2015 World Cup.
"As far as ODI and Test cricket are concerned, it's hard to give a timeframe. I am 36 years old now and will be 37 next year during the time of the World Cup. At the next World Cup, I will be 41 and I don't hope that I will be playing then. So the 2015 World Cup will be my last. It's a kind of natural progression," Sangakkara said in Dhaka.
"For Test cricket; form, fitness and enjoyment factors must be there for you to continue. There is no denying I am in the twilight of my career," he added.
There had been speculation that he would follow his best friend and mate Mahela Jayawardene who retired from Test cricket earlier this year.
In August during the second and final Test against Pakistan at the SSC where his best friend Mahela Jayawardene retired from Test cricket, Sangakkara made an extended salute to the fans when going back to the pavilion after playing his innings, which immediately sparked speculation that it was also Sangakkara’s final Test.
Sangakkara was quick to alleviate the fears after the match, but now that innings has proved to be the last Test innings he played on home soil.
"We won't be playing Test cricket in Sri Lanka for a long time from now until probably June," he said. "Waving the bat was just…. I didn't have anything in mind. There are two one-day series in Sri Lanka and the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. After the World Cup I will take a decision about my future, after speaking to the national selectors," Sangakkara said after that match.
Sri Lanka will play two away Test matches against New Zealand in December and January prior to the World Cup.
However, will play in overseas domestic tournaments including at least three more seasons of county cricket in England, according to the report.
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