Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

“This shows they are ungrateful for what they got through playing for the country”

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) chief selector Sanath Jayasuriya has announced that wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara and veteran batsman Mahela Jayawardene “should have had the common decency to inform the selectors” about their decision to retire from Twenty20 Internationals following the conclusion of the World Twenty20.

“I feel very let down by them,” Jayasuriya told ESPNcricinfo. “I’ve been very transparent with them. If they’re even resting, I’ve been calling them and telling them what’s going on. I never ever dealt controversially with any senior player. Whatever respect should be given to that senior player has been given, as a selection panel.

“They should have had the common decency to inform the selectors who could then prepare Sri Lanka for the next phase. Traditionally any international player takes an important decision such as retirement after consulting the selectors first. This shows they are ungrateful for what they got through playing for the country.”

Jayasuriya also noted that he believes the national team made the right choice by not signing the new central contracts since they definitely deserve some of the profit SLC make from International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments.

“Whatever issue they had with Sri Lanka Cricket – that’s a different story and I don’t want to bring that into it,” he said. “But as a selection committee, they have never had any problems with us. If they wanted to do anything, they should have consulted us.

“They might say that they would have told me. But the players are always dealing by writing letters to the board and anyone else, but they have not given me a letter. I can’t remember at all them mentioning anything like that.”