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| Sunday, 23 March 2003 |
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Sanath Jayasuriya resigns as Sri Lanka cricket captain by Dinesh Weerawansa Explosive batsman Sanath Jayasuriya yesterday tendered his resignation as Sri Lanka cricket captain, only a day after his team returned from South Africa after being eliminated from the final of the 2003 ICC World Cup tournament in South Africa. It was not immediately clear whether his resignation has been accepted or not. Jayasuriya offered to resigned from the captaincy, minutes after he met the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Johnston Fernando on the team's arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake on Friday. But Minister Fernando flatly rejected Jaysuriya's offer and insisted that the left-handed explosive batsman should continue to take the leadership of Sri Lanka cricket team. However, Jayasuriya later changed his mind and struck to his original offer in sending his resignation letter to the Chairman of Selectors, Guy de Alwis. Despite his side making a sad exit after losing to Australia in a rain-hit semi-final, Jayasuriya has been leading the side from front with some match-winning innings during the World Cup. But due to the poor form shown by his batsmen, except for vice captain Marvan Atapattu and Aravinda de Silva, Sri Lanka team could not live up to expectations despite his team making it to the last four of the 14-nation tournament in South Africa. Jayasuriya was to discuss future with national selectors this weekend before the 15-member squad for next month's Champions Trophy triangular in Sharjah with South Africa and Pakistan is named. Despite media speculations that his deputy Marvan Atapattu would takeover after the World Cup, Jayasuriya has been considered to be the automatic choice to retain captaincy and lead the lead to Sharjah from April 1. Even Minister Fernando fully backed the captaincy of Jayasuriya and wanted him to continue. The selectors are due to meet either today or tomorrow to finalise the team to Sharjah. A product of St. Servatius College, Matara and Bloomfield, Jayasuriya was appointed captain of the Sri Lanka team, replacing 1996 World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga, after their 1999 World Cup debacle in England. Following Sri Lanka's shocking first round exit at the 1999 World Cup, there were large-scale changes in the Lankan team which saw Jaysuriya being given the driving seat after the sacking of veterans Ranatunga, De Silva and Hashan Tillekeratne. The 2003 World Cup tournament already gave a bitter experience to two reputed captains - Waqar Younis of Pakistan and Shaun Pollock of South Africa, who were sacked from their respective teams first round exit at this year's World Cup. Despite not suffering the same treatment, Jayasuriya was the third captain to miss out after the 2003 World Cup. Jayasuriya first played for Sri Lanka in 1989/90 against Australia at the World Series Cup ODI in Melbourne. Since then, he has played in 297 ODI matches to become the second leading run-getter for Sri Lanka behind Aravinda de Silva - 8,966 runs at an average of 32.36 with 16 centuries and 54 fifties. He has also captured 244 wickets in ODI at an average of 35.69 apiece. Jayasuriya made his Test debut in 1990/91 against New Zealand in Hamilton and has now aggregated 4,789 runs, with an impressive average of 41.28 with ten centuries and 22 fifties.
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