Kulasekara calls it a day

Former Sri Lanka pacer Nuwan Kulasekara has called it a day in international cricket. 

The 37-year old right-arm pacer brought an end to his illustrious international career through a press conference at Colombo Colts Cricket Club Wednesday.

Known for his ability to swing the new ball both ways, Kulasekara ended his Sri Lanka career as the third-highest ODI wicket-taker among seamers, behind Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga, with 199 scalps in 184 matches. 

Kulasekara is the joint second-highest wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in T20Is, with 66 wickets in 58 matches. 

Only Malinga has more T20I wickets than him among Sri Lankans.

@TamimOfficial28 took some time off to interact with @DhakaTribune, along with two other journalists, and shared the thoughts going through his mind right now.https://t.co/ShSPSLN6Dg#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESHCRICKET #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #TAMIM #IQBAL #TAMIMIQBAL #SLC

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) July 24, 2019

The right-arm pacer however, is looking to continue playing the club and franchise T20 leagues across the globe.

“I have retired from international cricket only and look forward to playing league or franchise cricket for another few years,” said Kulasekara to the media in Colombo Wednesday.

Kulasekara in the Bangladesh Premier League T20 has played for Rangpur Riders and Comilla Victorians.

Kulasekara’s retirement came a day after Sri Lanka pace legend Malinga announced his retirement. 

Malinga is set to retire following the first of the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo Friday.

Visiting @BCBtigers will begin their three-match ODI series Friday taking on the host in the first game at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.https://t.co/pzzJcb7gFZ#BCBTIGERS #BCB #TIGERS #BANGLADESH #CRICKET #BANGLADESHCRICKET #SRILANKA #SLC #SRILANKACRICKET #BANGLADESHTEAM

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) July 24, 2019

Kulasekara since his international debut in 2003 has played 184 ODIs and picked up 199 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.9. 

The right-arm pacer played 58 T20Is and finished with 66 wickets. 

Kulasekara was part of the victorious Sri Lanka team that clinched the World T20I in 2014.

Kulasekara came up with a tidy spell of bowling in his four-over quota as he picked up the wicket of Yuvraj Singh and gave away only 29 runs in the final. 

Sri Lanka restricted India to 130 in 20 overs before gunning the total down with 13 balls to spare.