Jayasuriya resigns as Lankan captain

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan cricket captain Sanath Jayasuriya said yesterday he has officially resigned to allow authorities to groom a successor for the next World Cup.

“I gave a letter to the board referring to my announcement that I’ll be resigning after the Sharjah tour,” Jayasuriya told The Associated Press. Jayasuriya announced his decision to step down as captain after his team lost to Australia in the World Cup semi-final last month, but the selectors and Sports Minister Johnston Fernando persuaded him to stay on until the Sharjah tour. Jayasuriya said it was not the pressure of being captain that made him step down, but that he felt the need to groom a successor for the next World Cup to be staged in the West Indies in 2007. “I’ve been performing well (as captain),” he said.

Jayasuriya said he personally felt vice captain Marvan Atapattu should take over from him, but that choosing a captain is the job of the selectors. He was appointed captain after authorities sacked Arjuna Ranatunga over his failure to take his team to the second round of the 1999 World Cup in England. Jayasuriya has led Sri Lanka to victory in 18 Tests out of 38 matches and 67 one-dayers in 119 matches. Cricket board’s chief selector Lalith Kaluperuma confirmed Jayasuriya’s resignation. “He (Jayasuriya) has given a letter saying he’s not willing to continue. In that aspect will have to look for alternatives,” Kaluperuma said adding that a final decision will only be taken at a selection meeting next week .