Sri Lanka’s top order batter Danushka Gunathilika has decided to retire from the five day games, Cricket Age exclusively learns.
According to sources, Gunathilika has already handed his retirement letter to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
“Yes, he has tendered his retirement letter. He also came at Cricket board on Wednesday to meet top officials” an Insider at SLC told Cricket Age.
An attacking left handed opening batsman and an occasional offbreak, Danushka made his test debut in 2017 against India and has played 8 test matches so far. However, following the emergence of young batting prodigies like Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, he slipped from the selector’s radar in the longer format. Since last two years, he was anyway not in the race for test selection.
Even in the shorter formats, he remains suspended, due to one year International cricket ban for his breach of bio-secure bubble during Sri Lanka’s tour of UK last year.
In last few days, Shorter formats Sri Lanka players Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Angelo Perera have also retired from International cricket. 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. 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.
