Sanath Jayasuriya is one of the top picks in SLPL

The former Sri Lanka opener, Sanath Jayasuriya, was not only surprising inclusion but also he was among top picks in the inaugural season of the Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL). The 43-year-old Sanath Jayasuriya will receive $35,000 for his participation in Sri Lanka’s inaugural Twenty20 league. Now, it has made him one of the top six players to be drafted in the local players’ list.

The other five players who valued in the top list are Dinesh Chandimal, Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thisara Perera and Rangana Herath. They are now the current members of the Sri Lanka cricket team. The total number of local player is 107.

It seems that being selected at this age was a big challenge for Jayasuriya. However, he has successfully passed this challenge. He was selected in the ninth round by Kandurata. No doubt, Kandurata is playing a gamble by selecting him. He played for the Mumbai Indians in the first three seasons of the IPL and he also played for Khulna in the first season of the Bangladesh Premier League earlier this year.

After being selected by Wayamba, Chandimal became the first Sri Lankan player to be drafted with the day’s first pick. Perera and Kulasekara were respectively selected by Kandurata and Nagenahira as the second and third picked players. Kapugedara was the fifth picked player selected by Uthura, while Basnahira picked Herath in the second round.

The former Sri Lanka fast bowler, Chaminda Vaas, was valued at $25,000 and selected by Wayamba in the 11^th round.

Angelo Mathews replaced Shahid Afridi as the icon player of Nagenahira. Due to the recently announced Pakistan-Australia series, Shahid Afridi could miss the semi-finals and finals of the SLPL.

Sanath Jayasuriya announces retirement from international cricket

Veteran Sri Lankan cricketer, Sanath Jayasuriya, officially announced his retirement from all forms of cricket game. The announcement of his retirement came just days after the selectors announced his return to the ODI and T20 squad for the upcoming series against England.

He will play the only T20 on June 25 at Bristol and in the opening ODI match which will be played on June 28 at the Oval.

Sanath Jayasuriya was very much happy for his return to the national team after a gap of one and a half year, but he has taken decision to end his memorable cricketing career after the first ODI against England.

It seems that selectors still kept confidence on him and considering his talent and potential they have recalled him in the T20 and ODI squad.

He last played his ODI match against India in December 2009. Before that in 2007, he announced his retirement from the oldest format of cricket game. But he continued playing ODI and T20 format of cricket game and kept great contribution in the victory of his teams.

This year, on June 30 he will turn 42. Since making his ODI debut in 1989 against Australia, he has so far played 444 ODI matches where he scored 13428 at an average of 32.43 including 28 centuries and 68 half centuries.

In his 110 Test matches, he has scored 6973 at an average of 40.07. He has 14 centuries and 31 half-centuries besides his name.

He was not only an aggressive left-handed batsman but also an effective bowler. He has taken 322 wickets in ODI and 98 wickets in Test format of cricket game.

He was unhappy for not being selected in the World Cup squad. However, he was included in the provisional squad but left out when the team was trimmed to 15 members. He was the member of 1996 World Cup victory.

It will be expected that Sanath Jayasuriya will also be included with cricket game after retirement.

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