IND vs SL 2022: We're Working Hard To Give Suranga Lakmal A Great Farewell - Dimuth Karunaratne

Sri Lankan Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne stated that his team will try its best to win a match and give the perfect farewell to one of their veteran bowlers, Suranga Lakmal.

Prior to the start of the series, he had announced that the India Test series would be his last and he will retire soon after. Lakmal has been of their main bowling weapons and his retirement will leave a gaping hole in the attack.

“We’re trying very hard to give Suranga a great farewell. We haven’t come here just to play. We want to win a Test somehow, and do something that hasn’t been done before. We have a big expectation.”

“From day one till the last day we know what we have to do, but we have to put that in motion. We are working very hard and want to give everything for Suranga. He’s someone who gives everything to the team as well,” Karunaratne said in the pre-match press conference.

“Indebted to Sri Lanka Cricket for giving me this astonishing opportunity” – Suranga Lakmal

Lakmal had announced his retirement prior to the series and also confirmed that he will be joining Derbyshire to play at the county level.

“I’m indebted to Sri Lanka Cricket for giving me this astonishing opportunity and having faith in me to bring my motherland honour, as it has been [an] absolute pleasure to be associated with the board that shaped my professional life and also enriched my personal development.”

“I’ve loved every second of my international career, and I would like to thank Sri Lanka for giving me the opportunity to live my dream. Hopefully, I can bring that experience into this new challenge, to help the young bowlers, who are already making an impact at Derbyshire,” his retirement letter read.

Lakmal has played 66 Tests for the Sri Lankan team where he took 167 wickets at an average of 36.31. He has taken four five-wicket hauls in his career so far.

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