SL vs IRE: Dimuth Karunaratne Set To Step Down As Sri Lanka's Test Skipper Post Ireland Series

SL vs IRE: Dimuth Karunaratne Set To Step Down As Sri Lanka’s Test Skipper Post Ireland Series

by CA DeskMarch 20, 2023

Last Update on: March 20th, 2023 at 04:10 pm

Following his team’s 2-0 out of New Zealand, Sri Lankan Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne has made the decision to leave his position. At Wellington’s Basin Reserve for the second Test, the visitors were soundly thrashed by an innings and 58 runs. Dimuth Karunaratne has informed the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board that he will captain Sri Lanka for the final time in the upcoming series against Ireland following the conclusion of the series.

The World Test Championship (WTC) cycle’s league stage comes to an end as a result of the series’ loss. The Dimuth Karunaratne-led team needed to defeat New Zealand 2-0 in order to get to the finals. However, after losing the first Test on the fifth day’s final ball, their dreams were dashed.

The starting batter was initially named a temporary captain in 2019, taking Dinesh Chandimal’s place. In his first spell as captain, he led the country to a historic series victory in South Africa, becoming the first Asian team to do it. Dimuth Karunaratne played 26 Tests as Sri Lanka’s captain, winning 10, losing 9, and drawing 7 of them.

Dimuth Karunaratne Speaks On Leaving Sri Lankan Captaincy

Sri Lankan Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne was distraught after his side failed to bag the qualification for the World Test Championship finals. Sri Lanka finished the second World Test Championship (WTC) cycle in fifth position with a winning percentage of 44.44 over a two-year span. The batter talked about his decision of leaving the captaincy and had this to say,

“I have informed the selectors that its good to appoint a new captain for the new test cycle, so I am ready to step down after the Ireland series. I am yet to here from selectors what they think about my decision, but I feel I need to give the new captain to start from the beginning of the new test cycle, rather me stepping down from the middle of it”

In April 2023, Ireland will play two Test matches in Sri Lanka. The second Test will start on April 24, and the series will start on April 16. The Galle International Stadium will host the two Test matches.

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