New Delhi:
Sri Lanka speedster Nuwan Kulasekara who has featured in over 260 International games has officially called it a day. Kulasekara, who made an instant impression in his first ODI, against England at Dambulla in November 2003, after being selected from relative obscurity has alway been skipper's trump card. From a bustling run-up and whippy open-chested action, he generated a lively pace and moved the ball off the seam and can reverse-swing the ball.
Most importantly though, he mainted tight line and length which troubled the batsman to get going. He started his career as a softball enthusiast before he shifted his focus to cricket, joining Nugegoda Cricket Club and then Galle Cricket Club. He also won the best bowler award in the 2002-03 domestic competition. A maiden test fifty against England at Lord's in 2006 showed his natural batting abilities in the lower order.
But his bowling during the same tour lacked penetration and he dropped out of the squad for eight months. However, having worked hard on his action and gaining an extra yard of pace, he secured a place in Sri Lanka's World Cup squad. He rose to become one of Sri Lanka's strike bowlers, and in a 11-month period starting April 2008, he took 47 wickets. That helped him jump to the top of the ICC ODI rankings the following March.
Having featured in the International set up in 2017, the future for the 37-year-old was looking slim. Sighting this, on Wednesday Kulasekara announced retirement from International Cricket. Reportedly, he requested SLC for farewell game. Sports Minister gave the green signal but selectors weren't convinced as he hasn't played domestic cricket for longtime.
Meanwhile, the veteran Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga Tuesday confirmed he will retire from one-day international cricket after the first match against Bangladesh but hopes to play T20 cricket. Malinga invited fans to his farewell ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday and said the cricket board agreed to his request to retire from the 50-over format of the game.
