Bhanuka Rajapaksa Retirement: The 30 year ole Sri Lanka left-handed batsman announces retirement from international cricket with immediate effect, citing family obligations.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa Retirement
He handed in a letter of resignation to Sri Lanka Cricket, citing “familial obligations”. Rajapaksa for his part is yet to speak on the matter.
“I have very carefully considered my position as a player, husband and am taking this decision looking forward to fatherhood and associated familial obligations,” SLC cited Rajapaksa’s resignation letter as stating.
Sri Lanka Cricket’s Response
The sources of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have revealed that Bhanuka Rajapaksa in his retirement letter has stated that he has decided to quit international cricket because he can’t play cricket with the latest fitness standards introduced by the cricket board especially the skinfold levels.
The 30-year-old batsman feels if he brings down his skinfold levels he will not be able to do his power-hitting. Notably, the cricket administration has lowered the skin-fold test levels to 70 from 85.
Lasith Malinga Reacts on Bhanuka Rajapaksa Retirement
Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga has been one of the notable voices asking Rajapaksa to reconsider his decision. Also read: Lasith Malinga Announced Retirement from All Forms of Cricket
“Representing your country at International level is not an easy task and players always face so many challenges. I truly believe that @BhanukaRajapak3 has a lot more to give to Sri Lankan cricket and I request him to reconsider his decision to retire from International cricket,” Malinga tweeted.
Representing your country at International level is not an easy task and players always face so many challenges.
I truly believe that @BhanukaRajapak3 has a lot more to give to Sri Lankan cricket and I request him to reconsider his decision to retire from International cricket🤞— Lasith Malinga (@ninety9sl) January 5, 2022
Bhanuka most notably finished as Sri Lanka’s top run-scorer in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup.
The next decade saw Rajapaksa grind the domestic circuit. He made 4087 first-class runs at an average of 36.49. In List A (and T20 cricket, he made 2842 and 1912 runs respectively. In choosing to retire, he gives an undoubted sense of unfulfilled potential.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa has played 5 One Day Internationals and 18 T20 Internationals for Sri Lanka National Cricket Team and has scored 89 and 320 runs at an average of 17.8 and 26.67 respectively.
He was part of Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup 2021 squad and finished as the third-highest run-scorer for his team with 155 runs from eight matches.
