COLOMBO - Sri Lanka's cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara on Tuesday quit his job three days after his team lost to India in the World Cup final to allow new blood and fresh thinking into the team.
"It was a planned departure made known to selectors and the governing body way back as January," Sangakkara told reporters. "I will step down as one-day and Twenty20 captain immediately."
The 33-year-old said that he will stay on as Test captain for an interim period for the forthcoming series with England, and possibly Australia, if the selectors believe this would help the new captain and aid the transition.
"After careful consideration I have concluded that it is in the best long-term interests of the team that I step down now as national captain so that a new leader can be properly groomed for the 2015 World Cup," he said.
"This was a decision I made prior to the World Cup. I shared it first with my closest team mates Muttiah Muralitharan and Mahela Jayawardena. I will be 37 by the next World Cup and I cannot therefore be sure of my place in the team.
"It is better that Sri Lanka is led now by a player who will be at the peak of their career during that tournament."
Sangakkara, a fluent left-hand batsman and wicket-keeper, said he had no plans yet to retire as a player as he still aims to reach 10,000 runs both in Tests and one-days.
Sangakkara has scored 8,244 runs in 94 Tests at an average of 57.25 with 24 centuries. He also has 9,164 runs in 291 one-dayers with 11 hundreds.
He tipped allrounders Thilakaratne Dilshan or Angelo Mathews as the likely combination to succeed him as captain for all formats of the game.
He also said Upul Tharanga and Lasith Malinga "were ripe" to take up bigger responsibilities in one-days or T20.
"We need fresh ideas, new blood to come in and take things forward. Proper planning is needed to nurture talent to win future World Cups. I am happy to work with the new captain."
Sangakkara said he had enjoyed his two-year stint as captain since taking over from Mahela Jayawardene in March, 2009.
"It has been a true honour and a great privilege to serve my country as captain during the past two years," he said, adding that losing the World Cup final to India was the "lowest point" in his career.
"It was a great journey to get there. It was a fantastic effort by everybody. But, yes, I was bitterly disappointed."
He thanked his team-mates and coaching staff for their hard work and support.
Sri Lanka's coach Trevor Bayliss, also leaves the side this week, and Sangakkara said a new coach, new skipper and a deputy, would be ideal to build the team for the future.
There was no immediate comment from Sri Lanka Cricket or the national selectors on Sangakkara's decision.
However, Sangakkara said he shared his decision with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Monday. "The president took it well. He backed me. He gave his blessings."
The 33-year-old said that he will stay on as Test captain for an interim period for the forthcoming series with England, and possibly Australia, if the selectors believe this would help the new captain and aid the transition.
"After careful consideration I have concluded that it is in the best long-term interests of the team that I step down now as national captain so that a new leader can be properly groomed for the 2015 World Cup," he said.
"This was a decision I made prior to the World Cup. I shared it first with my closest team mates Muttiah Muralitharan and Mahela Jayawardena. I will be 37 by the next World Cup and I cannot therefore be sure of my place in the team.
"It is better that Sri Lanka is led now by a player who will be at the peak of their career during that tournament."
Sangakkara, a fluent left-hand batsman and wicket-keeper, said he had no plans yet to retire as a player as he still aims to reach 10,000 runs both in Tests and one-days.
Sangakkara has scored 8,244 runs in 94 Tests at an average of 57.25 with 24 centuries. He also has 9,164 runs in 291 one-dayers with 11 hundreds.
He tipped allrounders Thilakaratne Dilshan or Angelo Mathews as the likely combination to succeed him as captain for all formats of the game.
He also said Upul Tharanga and Lasith Malinga "were ripe" to take up bigger responsibilities in one-days or T20.
"We need fresh ideas, new blood to come in and take things forward. Proper planning is needed to nurture talent to win future World Cups. I am happy to work with the new captain."
Sangakkara said he had enjoyed his two-year stint as captain since taking over from Mahela Jayawardene in March, 2009.
"It has been a true honour and a great privilege to serve my country as captain during the past two years," he said, adding that losing the World Cup final to India was the "lowest point" in his career.
"It was a great journey to get there. It was a fantastic effort by everybody. But, yes, I was bitterly disappointed."
He thanked his team-mates and coaching staff for their hard work and support.
Sri Lanka's coach Trevor Bayliss, also leaves the side this week, and Sangakkara said a new coach, new skipper and a deputy, would be ideal to build the team for the future.
There was no immediate comment from Sri Lanka Cricket or the national selectors on Sangakkara's decision.
However, Sangakkara said he shared his decision with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on Monday. "The president took it well. He backed me. He gave his blessings."
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