Bhanuka Rajapaksa retires from international cricket
Sri Lankan cricketer Bhanuka Rajapaksa shocked the cricket fraternity after he handed over his retirement letter to the country’s cricketing body on January 3, a Sri Lanka Cricket source confirmed the development.
The reports also further added that the SLC is yet to make any decision over Bhankua Rajapaksa’s sudden decision. The reports stated that the governing body didn’t accept his retirement letter. He has represented Sri Lankan national cricket team in 5 ODIs and 18 T20Is.
The 30-year-old aggregated 89 and 320 runs at a batting average of 17.8 and 26.67 respectively. He scored 2 fifties in Twenty20 Internationals and a solitary fifty in One-Day Internationals. Meanwhile, the report also revealed the reason behind Rajapaksa’s decision to quit international cricket.
Sri Lanka Cricket confirms Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s retirementÂ
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) board confirmed Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s retirement from international cricket. The Colombo-born cricketer wouldn’t be able to continue playing the sport after Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) introduced the latest fitness standards, particularly the skinfold levels. For the unversed, skinfold refers to the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer in the body.
The governing body wants its players to be fit as a fiddle. However, Rajapasha feels he doesn’t fit the bill. He feels that if he cuts skinfold levels down, then he wouldn’t get the freedom to play according to his will. The left-handed batsman has maintained a terrific strike rate of 104.7 in ODIs and 136.2 in T20Is.
“I have very carefully considered my position as a player, husband and am taking this decision looking forward to fatherhood and associated familial obligations,” wrote Rajapaksa in his letter of resignation.
Last year, the 2 km run test replaced the Yo-Yo test to determine both the fitness and endurance levels of the players. The standards set for the 2km run surged from 8.35 minutes to 8.55 minutes. It was increased after a request was made by the Cricket Technical Advisory Committee. Needless to say, the SLC committee wants its players to complete the 2km run in 8:10 minutes.
