Sri Lankan left-arm pacer Isuru Udana has drawn the curtains on his international career, conveying his decision to Sri Lanka Cricket through a letter on Friday, July 31. Udana’s last appearance for the national side came in the second T20I against India earlier this week.
Udana will continue to play domestic cricket, and will be available for franchise tournaments, beginning with the CPL, starting in late August. A desire to spend more time with family is understood to be a factor in his decision, according to ESPNCricinfo.
Udana made his debut for Sri Lanka in the 2009 World T20 in England and appeared in five games in the showpiece event including the final. He made his ODI bow against India in 2012 where he took the field in two games. However, the military medium would have to wait for almost seven years to break into the playing eleven again.
The pacer managed to feature regularly only towards the fag end of his career after carving a reputation for being a white-ball specialist. Apart from being a canny customer with the ball using his variations to great effect, the 33-year-old also held a penchant for lusty blows lower down the order that helped him fetch gigs in T20 leagues worldwide. He was also an excellent fielder, to boot, making him a valuable pick for franchises around the globe.
Udana has now become the second Sri Lanka allrounder to retire from international cricket in the past three months. In May, Thisara Perera had bid adieu to the game, partly due to lack of opportunities with the national side.
Thank you very much ❤️. Love you all. Stay safe. #goodbye #IZY17 pic.twitter.com/4dXt72bMn0
— Isuru Udana (@IAmIsuru17) July 31, 2021
