Shorter formats Sri Lanka players Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Angelo Perera have retired from International games, Cricket Age exclusively learns. Both the players have already handed over their letters to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
“Yes, both the players have informed the board regarding their decisions” a top SLC official told Cricket Age.
Bhanuka, a below average left handed top order batter, played 5 ODIs and 18 T20Is for Sri Lanka. According to sources, Bhanuka suddenly decided to hang his boots due to the fear of failing in the Sri Lanka Cricket’s mandatory fitness test, before the upcoming Zimbabwe series. In his letter to SLC, he has himself mentioned that he won’t be able to pass the newly introduced fitness standard. Before picking the squad for Zimbabwe, the SLC will be conducting a 2km test on Friday. A big failure in maintaining fitness standard, he was dropped for the same reason in the past as well.
Angelo, meanwhile, appeared in 6 ODIs and as many as T20Is for his country. A soild middle order batsman, with unmatched talent, Angelo was unfortunately couldn’t make an impact at international level. According to sources, he plans to migrate to USA, which contributed in his decision to retire.
