According to the latest reports, on Monday, 3rd January Sri Lanka batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa has decided to retire from International Cricket as he had handed over a retirement letter to (SLC) Sri Lanka Cricket.
But the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is yet to make any decision regarding Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s retirement and the board hasn’t accepted Rajapaksa’s retirement letter.
Reasons why Bhanuka Rajapaksa wants to retire
According to the sources Bhanuka wants to retire from International Cricket because he can’t play cricket with the latest fitness standards introduced by the Sri Lanka cricket board and especially the skinfold levels.
He feels that the new rules will not get the freedom to bring his attacking game. The Cricket Administration has lowered the skin-fold test levels to 70 from 85. The benchmark set for the 2 km run was increased from 8.35 minutes to 8.55 minutes but the Sri Lanka board wants their players to complete the 2 km run in 8.10 minutes.
And the players who run below the benchmark up to 8.35 minutes will be considered for selection. Whereas on the other hand, the board will retain a specific percentage from the annual contract fee.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa Statement
“I have very carefully considered my position as a player, husband and am taking this decision looking forward to fatherhood and associated familial obligations,” he wrote.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa International stats
The left-hand batter was one of the key batters of the team in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. He was the top scorer for Srilanka in that World Cup by scoring 253 runs. Rajapaksa has represented Sri Lanka in 5 ODIs and 18 T20I and has scored 89 and 320 runs at an average of 17.8 and 26.67 respectively.
Last International Appearance
On 4th November against West Indies in the T20 World cup 2021, Bhanuka Rajapaksa made his last International appearance for Srilanka. He scored a match-winning half-century against Bangladesh in the Super 12 stage. He ended the tournament by scoring 155 runs.
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