Sri Lanka's T20 captain Wanindu Hasaranga resigned from his position on Thursday, ahead of India's white-ball tour of the island later this month. The 26-year-old all-rounder decided to step down following Sri Lanka's early exit from the T20 World Cup in June.
In a statement, Sri Lanka Cricket mentioned that Hasaranga opted to relinquish the captaincy to focus on contributing to the team as a player, believing it to be 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 the board.
No replacement has been announced yet for the T20 captaincy. Kusal Mendis remains the ODI captain, while Dhananjaya de Silva continues as the Test captain.
Hasaranga's resignation coincides with significant changes in Sri Lanka's coaching staff. Former captain Sanath Jayasuriya, 55, was appointed as the "interim" coach following the departure of former England coach Chris Silverwood. Silverwood, 49, left the position for "personal reasons," and Sri Lanka Cricket thanked him for his contributions during his tenure.
Sri Lanka's performance at the T20 World Cup was disappointing, with the team winning only one match against the Netherlands and finishing third in their group behind South Africa and Bangladesh. Additionally, former skipper Mahela Jayawardena stepped down as the "consultant coach" last month.
India is set to begin its tour of Sri Lanka with the first T20 match on July 26, followed by the second match on July 27, and the final T20 on July 29, all taking place at Pallekele. The tour will also include three ODIs, starting on August 1, with the second match on August 4 and the final on August 7. All ODI matches are scheduled at Premadasa Stadium.
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