Wanindu Hasaranga Resigns as Sri Lanka T20I Captain

Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lankan all-rounder, has unexpectedly resigned as the T20I captain of the national team after holding the position for approximately six months. In a statement released by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Hasaranga expressed that his decision was made in the best interests of Sri Lankan cricket, without providing specific reasons.

"Sri Lanka will always receive my unwavering support as a player, and I will continue to stand by my team and leadership," Hasaranga stated in his resignation letter.

Hasaranga's resignation comes as a surprise, considering that he was appointed to the captaincy role in August 2023. During his tenure, Sri Lanka won six out of ten T20Is, including bilateral series victories against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. However, the team's disappointing performance at the recent T20 World Cup, where they failed to qualify for the Super Eight, may have influenced his decision.

Despite the team's struggles, Hasaranga had publicly expressed his enthusiasm for the captaincy role and had even prioritized Sri Lanka commitments over lucrative IPL appearances. He also faced a two-match suspension for abusing an umpire during his stint as captain.

With Hasaranga's departure, Sri Lanka Cricket will need to find a suitable replacement for the T20I captaincy. Charith Asalanka, who led the team in Hasaranga's absence during his suspension, is a potential candidate. Asalanka also captains the Jaffna Kings in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL).

Sri Lanka's next T20I assignment is a three-match series against India at the end of January. The team will also have a new coach for this series, with Sanath Jayasuriya taking over as interim coach following Chris Silverwood's resignation after the World Cup. Mahela Jayawardene had also stepped down as consultant coach last month.

Tags: #WaninduHasaranga, #SriLankaCricket, #T20ICaptaincy, #Resignation, #CharithAsalanka