COLOMBO // Sri Lanka batting great Kumar Sangakkara is still in talks with selectors to discuss his retirement from Test cricket, captain Angelo Mathews has said.
Local media had speculated that the 37-year-old left-hand batsman will only play three more home Tests, two in the current series against Pakistan and one against India in August, before ending his glittering 15-year career.
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But Mathews said on the eve of the second Test against Pakistan starting at the P Sara Oval in Colombo today that the team’s senior professional had still not made up his mind.
“Kumar has still to confirm his retirement plans,” the Sri Lanka captain said. “He was supposed to meet the press over the last few days, but he has not done that yet.
“I know he is still talking to the selectors.”
Sangakkara, a veteran of 131 Tests, is the leading current Test batsmen. His 12,271 runs and 38 centuries far exceed second-placed Alastair Cook of England, who has 9,000 runs and 27 hundreds.
Mathews denied that Sangakkara had delayed the announcement because of Sri Lanka’s stunning 10-wicket defeat in Galle, which put Pakistan ahead in the three-match series.
“He had been speaking with the selectors even before the series began,” Mathews said, adding the uncertainty had not affected the team morale.
“I think Kumar has earned the right to decide when he should go. He has served Sri Lanka well over the years and he will obviously be missed when he goes.
“But it is now up to the younger players to step into the shoes of Kumar and Mahela [Jayawardene]. It won’t be easy but they have a great opportunity to make a name for themselves.”
Sangakkara followed his long-time teammate in quitting one-day and Twenty20 cricket at the same time, but remained keen to play more Test matches.
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