Kumar Sangakkara not interested to do an Imran Khan in Sri Lanka

After former Pakistan captain, Imran Khan overcame all odds to emerge as his country’s prime minister-in-waiting, similar expectations have started unfurling in other corners of South Asia where politics and cricket often co-exist gracefully. However, a former captain from another country in South Asia has said he was not eyeing to imitate Khan even as his nation goes to the next presidential election in 2019.

Kumar Sangakkara, the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman from Sri Lanka who is currently commentating for the India-England Test series, said he was unwilling to do an Imran amid the media speculation that the former cricketer was mulling a stint in politics. The Pakistani legend is expected to take oath as the prime minister of the country on August 18.

I do not harbour any ambitions for political office

“I would like to put to rest speculation and rumour once and for all, confirming that I do not harbour any ambitions for political office. “I never have, and, with enormous certainty, I can say I never will,” Sangakkara, 40, said in a statement, a Sportstar report cited.

Neither Sri Lanka’s ruling coalition nor the main opposition have named their candidates for the next year’s presidential poll.

Several former cricketers from the island-nation have switched to politics after quitting the game, including their only World Cup-winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga. While Ranatunga serves as a minister in the country’s current government, another former captain Sanath Jayasuriya worked as a deputy minister after hanging his boots.

Sangakkara, who led Sri Lanka to their third World Cup final in 2011, quit Test cricket in August 2015 after scoring 12,400 runs from 134 matches with 11 double tons. In 397 ODIs, he has scored 13,975 runs with 25 tons and is the highest scorer for his country in both versions.

As per Sri Lanka’s constitution, the deadline within which the presidential election has to be held on December 9, 2019, since the tenure of the current president, Maithripala Sirisena concludes on January 9, 2020. He came to power around the same time in 2015.

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