Thisara Perera announces international retirement

Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera has announced his international retirement, the SLC said in a statement. According to the release, Perera feels that the time is right to call time on his career and pave way for youngsters to come into the team.  

“I take pride in the fact that I was able to represent Sri Lanka in seven cricket world cups and be a contributing member of the 2014 T20 World Cup win against India in Bangladesh. Easily the highlight of My Life,’’ Perera mentioned in his letter addressed to the Sri Lankan cricket board.

Perera has played 250 internationals for Sri Lanka last of which was a One-Day International (ODI) against West Indies. He scored 3,745 runs and 241 wickets for his country. Perera's ODI strike-rate of 112.08 is also the fourth highest in the 50-over history.

Perera along with a few senior players were told that they will not be picked for the upcoming ODI series against England, to get in some young blood into the side, according to ESPNCricinfo.

The all-rounder also led Sri Lanka in nine T20Is and three ODIs.

“Thisara was a brilliant all-rounder, who has contributed immensely as a player to Sri Lanka Cricket and played a part in some of the glorious cricketing moments of the country,’ Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket, said.