Sangakkara quits as captain
Source: Agencies |
April 6, 2011, Wednesday
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KUMAR Sangakkara resigned as Sri Lanka cricket captain yesterday, three days after losing to India in the World Cup final.
Sangakkara said in a statement he's immediately stepping down as skipper of the national one-day and Twenty20 teams but wants to continue to be the test captain for the tour of England from May-July, and possibly the home series against Australia to ensure a smooth transition.
"I would like to announce that after careful consideration I have concluded that it is in the best long-term interests of the team that I step down now as national captain so that a new leader can be properly groomed for the 2015 World Cup in Australia," Sangakkara said.
"This was a decision I made prior to the 2011 World Cup. I will be 37 by the next World Cup and I cannot therefore be sure of my place in the team," he said.
"It is better that Sri Lanka is led now by a player who will be at the peak of their career during that tournament."
Sangakkara has captained Sri Lanka in 45 one-day internationals, winning 27, and losing 14. Also he has won 12 Twenty20s, losing nine.
Sangakkara said he has no immediate plans to quit international cricket and will be available for selection in all forms of the game.
Meanwhile, Gary Kirsten said he's reluctantly given up the reins to India, adding he has no idea what team he'll coach next as a follow-up to winning the World Cup.
Three days after his contract extension with India ended with the World Cup victory in Mumbai, Kirsten said yesterday he turned down repeated requests from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to continue as national coach.
"Believe me when I say that this is one of the hardest of goodbyes that I ever had to say," he said yesterday.
Kirsten said he's received offers to coach only in the Indian Premier League, but for now, the 43-year-old former South Africa international said he was returning home.
"I just want to take a break," he said. "Even I don't know what I am going to do next."
Kirsten's appointment in December 2007 was a surprise because he'd never coached an international team. Some India commentators were openly critical.
He'd distinguished himself as a batsman for South Africa with 21 centuries in tests and 13 in ODIs until he retired in 2004.
Then he improved his coaching qualifications, joined South Africa's high performance unit and opened his own academy in Cape Town.
Several India players he'd competed against were still around when he became their third foreign coach in March 2008.
Kirsten said he was proud to have achieved his stated goals of leading India to the No. 1 ranking in tests, and its first World Cup title in 28 years. "It's been a remarkable journey over the last three years with Team India," he read from a statement. "This has been one of the most cherished experiences of my life."
Meanwhile, ICC confirmed yesterday that the 2015 World Cup will be contested by 10 teams.
Sangakkara said in a statement he's immediately stepping down as skipper of the national one-day and Twenty20 teams but wants to continue to be the test captain for the tour of England from May-July, and possibly the home series against Australia to ensure a smooth transition.
"I would like to announce that after careful consideration I have concluded that it is in the best long-term interests of the team that I step down now as national captain so that a new leader can be properly groomed for the 2015 World Cup in Australia," Sangakkara said.
"This was a decision I made prior to the 2011 World Cup. I will be 37 by the next World Cup and I cannot therefore be sure of my place in the team," he said.
"It is better that Sri Lanka is led now by a player who will be at the peak of their career during that tournament."
Sangakkara has captained Sri Lanka in 45 one-day internationals, winning 27, and losing 14. Also he has won 12 Twenty20s, losing nine.
Sangakkara said he has no immediate plans to quit international cricket and will be available for selection in all forms of the game.
Meanwhile, Gary Kirsten said he's reluctantly given up the reins to India, adding he has no idea what team he'll coach next as a follow-up to winning the World Cup.
Three days after his contract extension with India ended with the World Cup victory in Mumbai, Kirsten said yesterday he turned down repeated requests from the Board of Control for Cricket in India to continue as national coach.
"Believe me when I say that this is one of the hardest of goodbyes that I ever had to say," he said yesterday.
Kirsten said he's received offers to coach only in the Indian Premier League, but for now, the 43-year-old former South Africa international said he was returning home.
"I just want to take a break," he said. "Even I don't know what I am going to do next."
Kirsten's appointment in December 2007 was a surprise because he'd never coached an international team. Some India commentators were openly critical.
He'd distinguished himself as a batsman for South Africa with 21 centuries in tests and 13 in ODIs until he retired in 2004.
Then he improved his coaching qualifications, joined South Africa's high performance unit and opened his own academy in Cape Town.
Several India players he'd competed against were still around when he became their third foreign coach in March 2008.
Kirsten said he was proud to have achieved his stated goals of leading India to the No. 1 ranking in tests, and its first World Cup title in 28 years. "It's been a remarkable journey over the last three years with Team India," he read from a statement. "This has been one of the most cherished experiences of my life."
Meanwhile, ICC confirmed yesterday that the 2015 World Cup will be contested by 10 teams.
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