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Sri Lanka’s left-handed opening batsman Upul Tharanga announced his international cricket retirement on Tuesday (February 23). He last played an ODI on the Sri Lanka tour of South Africa in 2019.
“As the good old saying, “All good things must come to an end,” I believe it’s time for me to farewell to my International Cricket Career after over 15 years of giving the game.
“I leave behind a road traveled with fond memories and great friendships. I am thankful to Sri Lanka Cricket for always having faith and the trust vested in me.”
“I am thankful to many cricket-loving fans, friends, and my family for standing by me during my highest of highs and even at lowest points in my career.”
“Your well-wishes and messages of encouragement were easily the drives behind my ambition. For that, I thank you call, and I wish you well. I would like to wish Sri Lanka Cricket all the very best for the future, and I am hopeful that the team will bounce back strong soon,” the 36-year-old wrote in his retirement post on Twitter.
Tharanga played 31 Tests, scoring 1754 runs and clubbed 407 runs in 26 T20Is. However, in ODIs, he enjoyed more success – he played 235 ODIs, scoring 6951 runs and 15 centuries, including a career-best of 174 not out against India in Kingston in 2013.
Tharanga also captained Sri Lanka for a brief period in 2017 and finished his career as the Islander’s 5th-highest centurion in the 50-overs format after Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Mahela Jayawardene.
https://twitter.com/upultharanga44/status/1364144648063619074
