COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne has reiterated his decision to step down as skipper after the ongoing series with Pakistan. His announcement follows the loss against Pakistan in the 1st Test.
Karunaratne had requested selectors to find a new captain for the new WTC (2023-25) cycle. However, back then the Sri Lankan selectors were keen to continue with him.
After a 4-wicket loss against Pakistan in the first Test, Karunaratne has once again claimed that he is ready to let go of his post.
“After I made the request, the selectors asked me to continue as captain. I have told them to reconsider my request after this series. I would like to focus purely as a batsman for my remaining few years. There are few suitable players for the leadership role. We don’t have a Test series until February next year,” Karunaratne told journalists.
Initially despite his decision to step down as Test captain, the selectors continued to place their trust in him and claimed that Sri Lanka would begin their new WTC cycle under his captaincy.
Karunaratne then went on to claim that his side failed to score runs in the first innings and poor fielding was responsible for the hosts losing the Test match to Pakistan.
“Disappointed we didn’t put up a big score after wining the toss. It was the best time to bat. We know that the first session is the toughest with their quicks creating opportunities. We just had to see off that tough period. Dhananjaya batted well. Then after taking five early wickets, we allowed their tail to cause significant damage. We put down a few chances and they took the game away from us,” he added.
“Our plan was to take their seamers out of the equation. The plan was to face the quicks well. If you see the last time when they came their spin was strong. Yasir Shah bowled really well. This time around their fast bowlers are creating more trouble while the spinners, apart from the leggie, who has some variations, the left-arm spinner and the off-spinner are bowling to a set plan. We should have fared much better.”
