“I’ve watched him, admired him and he is undoubtedly an out-and-out match-winner”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Sri Lanka wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara has admitted that he was “disappointed” when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to axe Kevin Pietersen’s central contract.

The ECB told Pietersen that they no longer required his services after the national team’s disastrous tour of Australia, where they were whitewashed 5-0 in the Ashes series.

“I don’t know the reasons for KP’s exclusion but the fact remains that he’s an amazing player,” Sangakkara told Wisden EXTRA. “I’ve watched him, admired him and he is undoubtedly an out-and-out match-winner. Of course, as an opposition player I’m not disappointed he’s not around. We know what damage he could have done to us, and the damage he has done to us before.”

Sangakkara also noted that the Sri Lankan team have had their problems in the past, but added that players have not had their careers ended as a result of it.

“For us, it’s been like that with Lasith,” he said. “He is very different in the way he looks, and as a person.

“Not everyone gets on well with each other in a team. There are certain people you might not have dinner with, but that doesn’t take away from the fact they will be valuable players in a national cause, going out trying to win matches.

“Without going into details, we’ve had our own issues and difficulties over the years inside the dressing-room and outside it.

“We’ve dealt with that very well as a side, and having 11 similar players is definitely not a positive thing.”