Sri Lanka skipper to step down
11 Feb 2009
COLOMBO — Mahela Jayawardene yesterday decided to step down as Sri Lanka’s cricket captain after the upcoming Tests in Pakistan, saying he was doing it in the best interests of the team.

“This is something I have been considering for some time as it has been my long-held belief that my successor should have at least 18 months in the job to imprint his vision on the team for the 2011 World Cup,” Jayawardene (31) said in a statement.

Jayawardene’s decision to quit came after India completed a 4-1 rout of Sri Lanka in a recent one-day series, although he did not mention this as a factor.

The middle-order batsman, who led Sri Lanka for the first time in April 2004, did not play in Tuesday’s Twenty20 international here, which India won by three wickets.

“After much thought, I have concluded that the right time has now come for fresh leadership to take over,” said Jayawardene, who was named the ICC’s captain of the year in 2006.

“It was not an easy decision to make because being the Sri Lanka captain has been the source of enormous pride. I am very grateful to have been granted the honour of leading the team.”