Wanindu Hasaranga Resigns as Sri Lanka’s T20I Captain Following WC Exit

Wanindu Hasaranga has resigned as Sri Lanka’s T20I captain after an early exit from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed interim head coach. Sri Lanka will play against India in a home series beginning July 26.

Wanindu Hasaranga has stepped down as the captain of Sri Lanka's T20I side following their early exit from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. The Sri Lankan spinner, who was appointed as the T20I captain only last year, led the team in 10 matches.

According to a statement released by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Hasaranga stated in his resignation letter that he took this decision in the best interest of the team. '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 wrote in his resignation letter to SLC.

Sri Lanka confirmed that Hasaranga would remain a key player going forward. The Asian team takes on India in a home white-ball bilateral series, beginning July 26. They are yet to name their squad and skipper for the series.

The recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2024 saw Sri Lanka failing to reach the Super Eights. They lost to South Africa and Bangladesh in the group stage, registered only one win against the Netherlands, and their game against Nepal was washed out due to rain. Lanka finished third in Group D with three points. Earlier, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced former cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya as the interim head coach of the men's senior national team until September 2024.

Jayasuriya has scored 21,032 runs at an average of 34.14 in 586 international matches from 1989 to 2011. He has scored 42 centuries and 103 fifties for Sri Lanka, with the best score of 340. He is the ninth-highest run-scorer in international cricket and the third-highest scorer for Sri Lanka behind Mahela Jayawardene (25,957 runs) and Kumar Sangakkara (28,016). The leading run-scorer is Sachin Tendulkar (34,357 runs).

He also took 440 wickets in international cricket.