Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva has stepped down as Test captain with immediate effect. His decision comes ahead of Sri Lanka’s upcoming Pakistan tour. The 35-year-old confirmed his decision in a letter to Sri Lanka’s selectors. He said he would remain available for selection as a player. De Silva said he believed the captaincy should move to the next generation. He will continue to support the team in the Test format. Just weeks before an important series. Sri Lanka will face Pakistan in two Tests next month. The first Test will begin in Rawalpindi on November 9. The second Test will start in Lahore on November 17.
Sri Lanka Cricket welcomed de Silva’s decision to remain available as a player. The board also thanked him for his continued contribution to the team. De Silva has been an important part of Sri Lanka’s Test setup for several years. He made his Test debut against Australia in 2016. Since then, he has played 69 Test matches for Sri Lanka. He has scored 4,431 runs in the longest format.
The all-rounder has also taken 43 wickets in Test cricket. His experience remains valuable for Sri Lanka’s squad. His resignation ends his current role as Test captain. However, he has not retired from Test cricket. De Silva will now focus on contributing as a senior player. His experience could help Sri Lanka during the Pakistan series. The captaincy change also gives Sri Lanka an opportunity to build new leadership. The selectors will now need to decide on his replacement.
The upcoming Pakistan series will be an important assignment for Sri Lanka. Both matches will take place in Pakistan. De Silva has not featured in Sri Lanka’s recent T20 and ODI squads. His last appearances in those formats came against England in January. His continued availability gives Sri Lanka another experienced option. The team can still benefit from his batting and bowling skills. Sri Lanka’s de Silva quits as Test captain at a key point for the team. His decision comes before a challenging away Test series. Sri Lanka will now prepare for the Pakistan tour under new Test leadership. The selectors are expected to confirm the next captain before the series. The leadership change will attract attention as Sri Lanka prepares for two important Tests. De Silva, meanwhile, remains committed to the national side as a player.
Sri Lanka faces a major leadership change before its Pakistan Test series.