Sri Lanka T20 skipper quits ahead of India’s tour

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s T20 captain Wanindu Hasaranga resigned Thursday ahead of India’s white ball tour of the island later this month, the cricket board said.

The 26-year-old all-rounder quit following Sri Lanka’s early exit from the T20 World Cup in June. Sri Lanka Cricket said Hasaranga decided to give up the captaincy and remain in the side as a player in the “best interest” of the team.

“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,” he was quoted as saying in his resignation letter to the board.

No replacement was announced and Kusal Mendis remained the country’s ODI skipper with Dhananjaya de Silva staying on as Test captain. Hasaranga’s resignation comes days after former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya, 55, was appointed “interim” coach until a permanent replacement for Chris Silverwood is named.

Former England coach Silverwood, 49, quit Sri Lanka’s national side for “personal reasons”, according to Sri Lanka Cricket, which thanked him for his “valuable contributions during his tenure”. Sri Lanka won only one match at the T20 World Cup tournament, against the Netherlands, and finished third in their group behind South Africa and Bangladesh.

Former skipper Mahela Jayawardena also stepped down as “consultant coach” last month. India will play its first T20 against hosts Sri Lanka on July 26 with the second match the following day and the final on July 29. All three matches will be at Pallekele. They will play three ODIs matches starting August 1 with the second on August 4 and the final three days later. All matches are scheduled at Premadasa Stadium.