Picture Credit: Twitter
Lahiru Thirimanne, the former Sri Lanka ODI captain, announced shocking retirement from international cricket on Saturday, ending a 12-year career that saw him represent his country in 197 matches across all formats.
Thirimanne took to social media to share his decision, saying that it was a difficult one to make but he had to do it due to many unexpected reasons. He thanked everyone who supported him throughout his journey, including the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), the coaches, the teammates, the physios, the trainers, the commentators, and the fans.
"As a player, I have given my best, I have tried my best, I have respected the game and I have done my duty honestly and ethically to my motherland. It was a difficult decision to make, but I cannot mention here the many unexpected reasons that influenced me to take this decision willingly or unwillingly," he said.
Thirimanne made his international debut in 2011 and went on to score 5573 runs with seven centuries and 31 fifties in his career. He was a reliable left-handed batsman who could bat at any position in the order and also captained Sri Lanka in 12 ODIs between 2013 and 2015, winning six of them.
Thirimanne's last international appearance was in March 2022, when he played a Test match against Bangladesh. He was not selected for the recent tours of the West Indies and England due to family commitments. Thirimanne's retirement comes at a time when Sri Lanka Cricket is going through a tough phase, with poor performances, contract disputes, and disciplinary issues.
