Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has chosen to conclude his Test cricket journey to prioritize his successful performance in white-ball formats. He is recognized as one of the top spinners globally in the shortest format and is part of multiple franchises worldwide in addition to his national team.
In previous accounts, it was mentioned that Hasaranga had communicated with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), indicating his intention to exclusively participate in white-ball cricket and to contribute his utmost to both formats for the national team in the future.
Reportedly, the board has granted his request, effectively marking his exit from Test cricket. On Tuesday, a statement was issued by Mr. Ashley De Silva, the CEO of SLC.
“We will accept his decision and are confident that Hasaranga will be a vital part of our white-ball program going forward,” the statement read.
In contrast to his accomplishments in white-ball cricket during his brief career, Hasaranga’s performance in Tests appears less remarkable.
He entered the Test arena against South Africa in 2020 and participated in four Tests for Sri Lanka, with his final appearance against Bangladesh in 2021.
Over the course of his four outings, he secured four wickets with an average of 100.75. In contrast, he has captured 102 wickets in 44 first-class matches since 2016.
Currently Wanindu Hasaranga holds the third position in the T20I bowling rankings
The skilled spinner’s excellence in limited-overs cricket reached new levels when he was named the top-ranked T20I bowler following a successful performance in the individual T20 World Cup 2022.
He continues to hold the highest ranking among Sri Lanka’s bowlers in this format, currently occupying the third position, trailing behind Rashid Khan and Josh Hazlewood.
Presently a member of the B-Love Kandy team in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023, Wanindu Hasaranga stands as one of the highly coveted individuals in the T20 franchise cricket sphere.
He also holds a crucial role in the ODI squad, as evidenced by his contributions in the recently finished ODI World Cup qualifiers held in Zimbabwe.
He emerged as the top wicket-taker with 22 dismissals, playing a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s victory in the tournament and their subsequent qualification for the World Cup.
Undoubtedly, the enigmatic spinner will hold a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s lineup for upcoming events such as the 2023 Asia Cup and the 2023 ODI World Cup, particularly because these tournaments are hosted in the subcontinent.
Sri Lanka’s ongoing twist division is led by Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis among different applicants. Hasaranga’s fellow thriller spinner Maheesh Theeksana has also made a handful of take a look at appearances in recent times.
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