Thilan Samaraweera retires

Veteran Sri Lanka batsman Thilan Samaraweera has finalised his retirement 48 hours before the Test series against Bangladesh.

The 36-year-old was named among 23 centrally contracted players by Sri Lanka Cricket on Monday - albeit in a 'special category' agreement - but wrote to the board the following day to call time on his international career after missing out on final selection for the Tigers series.

SLC requested a personal meeting with the player before accepting his retirement but the matter is now closed.

Samaraweera, owner of 81 Test caps and 5,462 runs at over 48, had been asked to remain available but has accepted the team must now move on with younger players.

"I was shocked with my omission from the squad against Bangladesh," Samaraweera told Cricinfo.

"There was no point in waiting for nine months (for the Pakistan series). I respect the decision of the selectors to go with young players and decided it was the right time for me to retire.

"Although I have not lost the power of my passion to make a comeback, my ethics of reasoning does not interest me to do so at this hour where the obvious focus should be to find a balance in the prospects we have for the future."

The news has somewhat overshadowed the beginning of the two-match rubber, which gets under way in Galle on Friday, and shifts the attention a little from Angelo Mathews as he starts his captaincy tenure following Mahela Jayawardene's resignation.

Bangladesh batsman Anamul Haque, meanwhile, is relishing being on tour with the Test squad and is hopeful of making his debut in Galle.

Twenty-year-old Haque has been given the chance to stake his claim for a place.

The Tigers have travelled without a number of established run-scorers, and the Kushtia native is planning on making his mark if given the nod.

"I have been here for an under-19 tour and made a couple of fifties. From what little I have played here I can tell you that the pitches are generally sporting," he said on the Bangladesh Cricket Board's official website.

"The practice wickets are also very good, although it is a bit hot and humid, but I am enjoying my time here."

He has made his debut in both forms of the one-day game, but a red-ball bow still beckons.

"I have played ODIs and T20s for Bangladesh but Test cricket has always been my main ambition," he added.

"If I get the chance then it will be the proudest moment of my cricket career."

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