Amidst the ongoing havoc in Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), opener Upul Tharanga on Tuesday announced his retirement from international cricket, calling it a day on his 15-year-long career. The swashbuckling opener shared a heartfelt note on social media as he hung up his boots after having played his last international game for Sri Lanka back in 2019. The left-handed batsman had also led the Lankan team several times as a stand-in captain before being appointed as the permanent captain in 2017.
“I leave behind a road travelled with fond memories and great friendships. I am thankful to Sri Lanka Cricket for always having faith and trust vested in me. I am grateful to the many cricket loving fans, friends and my family for standing by me during my highest of highs and even at my lowest points in my career. Your well-wishes and messages of encouragement was easily the drive behind my ambition. For that I thank you all, and I wish you well,” Tharanga wrote in his note announcing retirement.
Moreover, Tharanga also wished the best for Sri Lankan Cricket and hoped that the island nation would bounce back to glory. Across 292 matches for Sri Lanka, Upul Tharanga has scored 9112 runs and notched up 18 international centuries. Courtesy of his huge partnerships with former Lankan opener Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga is the fastest Sri Lanka batsman to reach 4000 ODI runs, a feat he achieved in 119 innings. He had also faced a minor doping ban for three months during his career when after the ICC World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in 2011 he was found to have consumed two banned substances. Tharanga had claimed he had taken some medication for asthma and had no idea it was a banned drug.
