Jayasurya to retire after playing just one ODI against England

Jayasurya cricketer

Sri Lanka all-rounder Sanath Jayasuriya, who has been selected in the team for the one Twenty20 and five one-day internationals against England, has announced to retire from the game after playing only the T20 and one ODI.

Hours after being recalled for the one Twenty20 and five one-day internationals, the 41-year-old said: “I invited you to announce my decision to end my international career of more than 20 years.”

Jayasuriya told reporters in Colombo: “I consider it a privilege to have represented Sri Lanka. The selectors picked me for the whole series but it was my personal decision to retire midway.”

Jayasuriya, who made his ODI debut in 1989 and has played 444 matches, was originally included in a 16-man squad, despite making his last ODI appearance in December 2009, while he played his last Twenty20 match in May 2010, The BBC reports.

He was not included in Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad and failed to secure a contract with a franchise in this year’s Indian Premier League, leading many to believe he would not play international cricket again.

Sri Lanka one-day squad: T Dilshan (capt), T Kandamby, K Sangakkara, M Jayawardene, D Chandimal, J Mendis, D Karunaratne, T Perera, Malinga, N Kulasekera, S Lakmal, D Fernando, S Randiv, A Mendis, A Mathews, S Jayasuriya.