Hasaranga’s resignation follows Sri Lanka’s poor performance in the T20 World Cup, but it is still a surprise..
Wanindu Hasaranga has resigned as Sri Lanka’s T20I captain after around six months in the position. He stated in a statement released by the board that his decision was in the best interests of Sri Lankan cricket.
“Sri Lanka will always have my utmost best efforts as a player, and I will support and stand by my team always,” Hasaranga said in his resignation letter,
Hasaranga’s resignation came shortly after the World Cup in which Sri Lanka failed to qualify for the Super Eight, but it was still a surprise. There was little public pressure to fire him, as he was still new to the job. He is enjoying the job and is focusing on his performance for Sri Lanka in this year’s IPL as he recovers from a leg injury.
When he resigned, he lamented the length of Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign..
“Sri Lanka’s early exit from the T20 World Cup is very disappointing for me as captain and the entire team,” he wrote. “As a team and as a country, our expectations were very high and we were confident that the best Sri Lankan team would come into the tournament.
“I don’t want to have negative words about our poor performance, but I really think the Bangladesh game was close and we could have done it [with Bangladesh winning by six wickets to spare.” Then the situation and the destiny of our country will be different.”.
Sri Lanka have won six of the ten T20Is they have played under Hasaranga, winning the double series against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan from 2024. He was also banned for two matches this season for abusing a defender..
He is currently the captain of the Lankan Premier League team Candy Falcons in the ongoing franchise..
There is no clear cut candidate to replace him as Sri Lanka’s captain in T20Is, but Charith Asalanka’s name will be mooted. He took charge of the two matches for which Hasaranga was suspended and also leads the Jaffna Kings in the LPL this season..
Sri Lanka’s next T20I action is a three-match series against India later this month. Sri Lanka will also enter the series with a new coach, Sanath Jayasuriya who will take over as interim coach after Chris Silverwood stepped down after the World Cup. Mahela Jayawardene also left her job as a consulting teacher last month..
