Sri Lanka National Cricket Team opener Dimuth Karunaratne has announced his retirement from international cricket. The Southpaw will be playing the second Test against the Australia National Cricket Team as his last match at the Galle International Stadium in Galle.
Dimuth Karunaratne will be ending his career after playing 100 Tests, which will be the second Test against the Australia National Cricket Team. The match will be played from Thursday (6th February), and his retirement surely will mark the end of an era in Sri Lanka Cricket.
Dimuth Karunaratne has been an incredible servant for the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team in Tests. He has played a massive role in helping the team make a strong comeback in international cricket. Apart from his heroics as the batter, he also captained the team.
Dimuth Karunaratne, who has been going through the lean patch, said that it was difficult for him to maintain his form, and he felt retiring after 100 games would be ideal. Speaking about the same to Daily FT, he explained:
“It is difficult for a Test player to keep himself motivated to play 4 Tests for a year and maintain his form. In the last 2-3 years after the WTC (World Test Championship) was introduced, we have been having very little bilateral series. My current form is another reason; completing my 100 Tests, the end of the WTC cycle (2023-25), I thought is the right time to retire.”
Dimuth Karunaratne, who will be moving to Australia with his family next month, revealed that he made the call after talking to his teammates Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal. He also added that his target was to get 10000 runs, but he is happy with what he has achieved. He explained:
“I have some personal plans of my own. I’ve decided to retire after speaking to other senior players like Angie [Angelo Mathews] and Chandi [Dinesh Chandimal]. Rather than the three of us retiring at the same time, it will be better for us to go one by one.
“I thought I would retire first because I know I cannot go for my next target – 10,000 runs – with the lesser number of Tests being played. I am happy with what I have achieved so far. I want to announce my retirement with a happy moment like playing in my 100th Test.”
Also read: Cummins and Ryan Burl stranded in Dhaka as Durbar Rajshahi fails to settle payments and provide return tickets
More to follow…
Leave feedback about this