Wanindu Hasaranga Resigns As Sri Lanka T20I Captain After Short Tenure

July 11, 2024 0 756

Wanindu Hasaranga had recently declared his resignation as the T20I captain of Sri Lanka after a very short stint.

Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga has unexpectedly resigned from his role as the national team’s T20I captain after just six months of his appointment.

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board announced Wanindu Hasaranga’s decision in a press release, with the player himself citing the “best interest of Sri Lankan cricket” as his reason for stepping down. “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,” Hasaranga said in his resignation letter.

Notably, Sri Lanka won six out of the ten T20I matches played under Hasaranga’s captaincy, including series victories over Zimbabwe and Afghanistan earlier this year. However, his tenure was not without controversy, as he received a two-match suspension for umpire abuse during this period.

Hasaranga’s resignation was seen after a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign for Sri Lanka, where they failed to qualify for the Super Eight stage. While there was no public pressure for his removal, his short time in the role likely offered some protection.

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The search for a new T20I captain is now underway, with Charith Asalanka emerging as a potential candidate. Asalanka filled in for Hasaranga during his suspension and currently leads the Jaffna Kings franchise in the ongoing Lanka Premier League.

Sri Lanka’s next challenge in the T20I format will be a three-match series against India later this month. This series will also see a new coach leading, with Sanath Jayasuriya taking over on an interim basis following Chris Silverwood’s resignation after the World Cup. Notably, Mahela Jayawardene had also recently stepped down as a consultant coach for the national team.