Dhananjaya de Silva has resigned as Sri Lanka’s Test captain with immediate effect, ending his leadership after 18 matches. The 35-year-old informed the Sri Lanka Cricket Board’s selection committee in a letter, stating that the captaincy should be passed on to the next generation. He will remain available for selection as a player.
De Silva assumed the captaincy in January 2024 following the retirement of Dimuth Karunaratne. Over his tenure, Sri Lanka played 18 Tests, winning seven, losing eight, and drawing three. The team secured series victories against Afghanistan at home, Bangladesh both home and away, and New Zealand at home.
One of his most notable moments as captain came early on, in only his second Test in charge. De Silva scored centuries in both innings during a match in Sylhet, leading Sri Lanka to a 328-run victory over Bangladesh. Throughout his captaincy, he added two more centuries and maintained a batting average of 36.45.
Sri Lanka’s recent form has been challenging. The team currently sits seventh in the World Test Championship standings after a series defeat to the West Indies and a home series loss to India. These results likely contributed to the timing of De Silva’s decision.
De Silva has played 69 Tests for Sri Lanka and remains one of the senior players in the squad. Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley de Silva expressed gratitude for his leadership and wished him well for the rest of his career.
Sri Lanka has yet to name a new Test captain. Their next assignment is a two-match series against Pakistan starting on November 9 in Rawalpindi.
According to Yahoo Sports.
