adminGALLE. — Prolific batsman Kumar Sangakkara has the chance to add more lustre to his glittering Test cricket career when familiar foes Sri Lanka and Pakistan contest their fourth series in two years starting tomorrow, as talk of retirement swirls.
The 37-year-old has not responded to media speculation that he will play three more home Tests – two of the three matches against Pakistan and one against India in August – before ending his 15-year-career.
The left-hander is head and shoulders above other current Test batsmen. His 12,203 runs and 38 centuries far exceed second-placed Alastair Cook of England, who has 9,000 runs and 27 hundreds.
Sangakkara is unlikely to catch up with record-holder Sachin Tendulkar’s Test tally of 15 921 runs and 51 hundreds, but his 11 scores of 200-plus are just one short of Australian legend Don Bradman’s record of 12.
The batsman, who has already quit one-day and Twenty20 cricket, will meet Sri Lanka Cricket officials this week to decide how many more Tests he will play in the home season. The opening match at the Galle International Stadium will be followed by the second Test at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo from June 25 and the third in Pallekele from July 3.
The Tests will be followed by five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches.
Teams
Pakistan: Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Azhar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Shan Masood, Younis Khan, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Sarfraz Ahmed, Yasir Shah, Zulfiqar Babar, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan, Imran Khan, Ehsan Adil.
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kaushal Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Kithruwan Vithanage, Jehan Mubarak, Kusal Perera, Rangana Herath, Dilruwan Perera, Tharindu Kaushal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dhammika Prasad, Dushmantha Chameera, Suranga Lakmal (subject to fitness). — AFP.
Online Reporter