In a surprising turn of events, Wanindu Hasaranga has stepped down as Sri Lanka’s T20I captain after a brief tenure of approximately six months. Despite not specifying a reason for his resignation, Hasaranga emphasized that his decision was made in the best interest of Sri Lankan cricket. He assured fans and the cricket community of his continued commitment to the team and leadership as a player.
Hasaranga’s resignation comes on the heels of Sri Lanka’s disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup, where the team failed to advance to the Super Eight. Interestingly, there was minimal public pressure for Hasaranga to step down, making his decision even more unexpected. Throughout his captaincy, Hasaranga appeared to enjoy the role and had consistently prioritized his commitments to Sri Lankan cricket over opportunities in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“Sri Lanka will always have my utmost best efforts as a player, and I will support and stand by my team and leadership as always,” Hasaranga said in his resignation letter, according to the board.
Under Hasaranga’s leadership, Sri Lanka won six out of ten T20I matches, securing bilateral series victories against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan earlier in 2024. However, his captaincy was not without controversy; he faced a two-match suspension for abusing an umpire during his tenure.
Hasaranga will continue to captain the Kandy Falcons in the Lanka Premier League. With no clear successor in sight, Charith Asalanka’s name has emerged as a potential candidate for the T20I captaincy. Asalanka previously led the team in the two matches Hasaranga was suspended for and currently captains the Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League.
Sri Lanka’s next T20I series is a three-match showdown against India at the end of this month. This series will also mark the beginning of Sanath Jayasuriya’s tenure as interim head coach, following the resignation of Chris Silverwood after the World Cup. Additionally, Mahela Jayawardene recently stepped down from his role as consultant coach, adding to the wave of changes within the Sri Lankan cricket setup.
Hasaranga’s resignation, given his enthusiasm and the brevity of his tenure, has left fans and analysts alike speculating on the future leadership of Sri Lanka’s T20I squad.
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