Dilshan announces retirement from international cricket

Veteran Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan says that he will retire from international cricket following the 3rd one-day international in Dambulla and the two Twenty20 matches against Australia. 

The former Sri Lanka skipper said that he has formally informed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) via a letter.

He will retire from one-day internationals after Sri Lanka’s 3rd ODI against Australia at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Sunday (August 28) and from Twenty20 internationals after the 2nd T20 in Colombo  on September 9.  

Dilshan, 39, made himself unavailable for the recent tour of England due to personal reasons, but the attacking opener was a key figure in the 16-man squad named for the first two ODIs at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

The veteran of 327 ODIs had scored 1,207 runs at an average of 52.47 in ODIs last calendar year. He averaged 49.18 in ODIs since the start of 2013 and had also been Sri Lanka’s top scorer in the World T20 tournament this year. 

He had retired from test cricket in October 2013, saying he wants to clear the way for younger players.

Dilshan led Sri Lanka in 11 tests, with one win, five draws and five losses. The highlight of his captaincy was leading his team to its first win against South Africa in South Africa.

Dilshan played 87 test matches during a 14-year career, and his 5,492 runs included 16 centuries at an average of almost 41. A versatile cricketer, Dilshan has also picked by 39 wickets with his part-time off spin bowling and kept wickets.

The 16 centuries and 23 half centuries proves he was a great servent of Sri Lanka Cricket while his best knock was against England when he scored a blistering 193 runs.

The right-handed batsman is also famous for developing the ‘Dilscoop’ - a cricket batting stroke, also known as a "ramp shot”.