Kumara Sangakkara confirmed as Sri Lankan skipper by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:

KC Sangakkara, DPMD Jayawardene

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DateLine: 8th March 2009

 

Sri Lankan selectors have confirmed that Kumar Sangakkara, the long-standing vice-captain to Mahela Jayawardene will take over the role as captain of the national cricket team. Once Mahela Jayawardene announced he will step down from captaincy after the Test series in Pakistan, the obvious choice for the captaincy role was Sangakkara, who had been Jayawardene’s deputy for three years and the confirmation about his elevation to leadership role came on Saturday.

 

"Kumar is the obvious choice for captaincy. He’s been a terrific performer for the national cricket team and has been an incredible role model. He’s been the deputy for Mahela for three years and he’ll take over the leadership role from Mahela in all three forms of the game," Ashantha de Mel, the Chairman of Cricket Selectors said.

 

"The selectors had a chat about Mahela’s successor and we have no doubt that Kumar is the suitable person to take over. We spoke to Kumar when he was in Pakistan and he has agreed to take over," de Mel added.