Sachithra Senanayake calls it quits from International cricket with immediate effect

Sri Lanka’s right-arm off-break bowler Sachithra Senanayake will no longer be a part of the national team set up as he called it quits from international cricket with immediate effect. Senanayake’s decision to retire from the international circuit was no surprise considering the fact that he had last seen in action for Sri Lanka in a T20 game against Australia in Colombo in 2016.

His last ODI appearance came against New Zealand at Christchurch in 2015. His only Test appearance was the first and last one of his cricketing career where he played against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi in 2013. It should be noted that Sachithra Senanayake is the 150th ODI cap for Sri Lanka. The spinner was an important member of the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 winning team.

Senanayake made his international debut for Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI of the tour of South Africa in January 2012. Since then he went on to represent the team in 49 ODIs, 24 T20Is and a lone Test match. He has picked 53 wickets in ODI and 25 wickets in T20Is. He has taken 119 wickets in domestic cricket. His personal best in ODIs is 4/13, 4/46 in T20Is and 4/23 in T20s.

He was a regular part of team’s spin attack in limited over cricket where he played with Ajantha Mendis. However, bad news followed him around like a nightmare when he was reported for illegal bowling action back in July 2014.

Senanayake then remodelled his bowling action and returned to international cricket in December 2014 but performed badly since then. Despite his poor bowling performance in bilateral tournaments, he was included to the 15-men 2015 ICC World Cup tournament as the main spinner of the team.

‘I will continue to play domestic cricket’: Sachithra Senanayake

Sachithra Senanayake said he was disappointed with the team management as he was ignored for team selection for the last four years. Since no door had opened for him, he had to make the decision immediately. “I have decided to call it a day,” said Senanayake.

However, Senanayake said he would continue to ply his trade in domestic cricket. “I will continue to play domestic cricket but I know for a fact that I will not get a chance to play for the national team in the future. So I decided to quit,” he added.

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