Sangakkara farewell to international cricket

Telangana99.com: Kumar Sangakkara said a tearful farewell to international cricket on Monday. Several thousand cheering fans, many of them schoolchildren waving Sri Lankan flags along with VIPs, turned out to salute Sangakkara at the end of the second Test against India in Colombo. Sangakkara was immediately offered the post of the island’s top envoy in Britain, where he plays county cricket.

“You have been a great honour to Sri Lanka,” President Maithripala Sirisena said in a televised ceremony at the P. Sara Oval for the formidable cricketer after the match.

Sangakkara, who turns out for Surrey in English county cricket, did not directly address Sirisena’s announcement about the diplomatic post, later telling reporters he had been unprepared for the gesture.

During the formal sendoff, the 37 year old broke down as he thanked his parents for standing by him during his 15 years of cricket.

All the support and love they showed over the years, whether I played cricket or not, whether I did well or not, the only place I could go and feel safe was home. So thank you ‘amma’ and ‘apachchi’, Sangakkara said, fighting back tears as fans cheered and clapped.

He also praised Indian captain Virat Kohli and his team for their tough opposition during his farewell match which Sri Lanka lost by 278 runs., allowing the tourists to level the series 1-1.

“Thank you for not giving any quarter,” he told the Indian team.

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