Sri Lankan top order batter Lahiru Thirimanne announces retirement from international cricket on 23 July 2023. The left-handed batter announced his decision on his Facebook page and migrated to Australia.
Lahiru Thirimanne Announce Retirement from International Cricket
Lahiru Thirimanne made his ODI debut in January 2010 against India in Shere Bangla National Stadium. Lahiru Thirimanne in his debut match scored 22 runs off 24 balls and was dismissed in Sreesanth’s delivery.
Thirimanne scored his first ODI century against Australia at Adelaide Oval during the second ODI of the 2012–13 Commonwealth Bank Series. It’s also his first A-List century.
“As a player, I have given my best, I have tried my best, I have respected the game and I have done my duty honestly and ethically to my motherland. It was a difficult decision to make, but I cannot mention here the many unexpected reasons that influenced me to take this decision willingly or unwillingly. I take this opportunity to thank the SLC members, my coaches, teammates, physios, trainers and analysts for their support and encouragement”, Thirimanne wrote on his Facebook page.
Lahiru Thirimanne made his Test debut on 16 June 2011 in a match against England at The Rose Bowl. During 1st test at Galle on 8 March 2013, during Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka, Thirimanne scored his maiden test century. His unbeaten 155 runs helped to put up a big total for Sri Lanka.
| Format | Match |
| Test | Debut – vs England at The Rose Bowl, Jun 16, 2011 |
| Last – vs India at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Mar 12, 2022 | |
| ODI | Debut – vs India at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Jan 05, 2010 |
| Last – vs Pakistan at National Stadium, Oct 02, 2019 | |
| T20I | Debut – vs Pakistan at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Jun 01, 2012 |
| Last – vs South Africa at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Mar 28, 2016 |
CHECK: Team Sri Lanka ODI World Cup Schedule 2023 – Time Table, Date
Thirimanne captained the cricket team for the 2014 Asian Games at Incheon, where Sri Lanka won the gold medal by defeating Afghanistan in the final.
During the 2014 Asia Cup in Bangladesh, he opened the batting with Kusal Perera, due to the injury of Tillakaratne Dilshan, who was not included in the series.
He scored two magnificent hundreds against Pakistan, where he finally ended up being the highest run-scorer in the tournament with 2 centuries with an average of 55.80. Eventually, Sri Lanka became champions for the fifth time in Asia Cup history. Thirimanne was adjudged man of the match in the final and also won the Player of the Series award.
Lahiru Thirimanne played 44 Tests, 127 ODIS and 26 T20Is and scored 2088, 3164 and 291 runs in all three formats respectively.
