Wanindu Hasaranga, the 26-year-old Sri Lankan all-rounder, has announced his retirement from Test cricket.
Hasaranga has made a name for himself as a prominent figure in the franchise leagues around the world, but he has played just four Tests, picking up four wickets at an average of 100.75. He played his first Test in December 2020 and did not play another game after April 2021.
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Hasaranga's decision to retire from Test cricket is likely due to a combination of factors. He has not been a regular member of Sri Lanka's Test squad in recent years, and he has struggled to make an impact with the ball in the first class matches, where he averages 27.
In a statement released by Sri Lanka Cricket, Wanindu Hasaranga said that he was retiring from Test cricket in order to “prolong his career as a limited-overs specialist.”
He also said that he was grateful for the opportunity to have played Test cricket for Sri Lanka, and that he would continue to give his best for the team in the white-ball formats.

Sri Lanka Cricket CEO Ashley De Silva said that the board accepted Hasaranga's decision and was confident that he would be a “vital part of our white-ball program going forward.”
De Silva also said that Hasaranga's decision was “cordial” and that the board had no issue with him pursuing other opportunities so long as he remained available for Sri Lanka's white-ball games.
Hasaranga's retirement from Test cricket is a significant loss for Sri Lanka. He is a talented all-rounder who has the potential to be a world-class bowler in the limited-overs formats.
However, his decision to focus on franchise cricket is understandable given the financial rewards that are on offer. Recently, he was forced to skip the MLC (major league cricket) as he was involved in training with the Sri Lanka test team's camp ahead of the Pakistan tour.
He did not end up playing a game.
Overall, Hasaranga's retirement from Test cricket frees up Hasaranga to focus on the formats where he is most likely to succeed.
In addition to his Test career, Hasaranga has also represented Sri Lanka in 48 ODIs and 58 T20Is. He is a key member of the Sri Lankan limited-overs team, and he is expected to play a major role in the team's upcoming Asia Cup and World Cup campaigns.
Hasaranga is currently captaining his Lanka Premier League side B-Love Kandy.