Sripali Weerakkody retires from international cricket

  Sri Lanka fast bowler Sripali Weerakkody has announced her retirement from international cricket with immediate effect.

She has officially informed her intention to Sri Lanka Cricket, a statement read.

“I have decided to call it a day. So I feel this is the right time for me,” Sripali said. The decision to retire was a personal decision, Sripali further added.

The 34 year old former fast bowling all-rounder has represented Sri Lanka in 89 ODI internationals and 58 T20 internationals.

She picked up 58 ODI wickets at 35.62 and 31 T20I wickets at 29.32.

The 34-year-old opening bowler was also a handy batter in the lower order – she ends her international career with 722 ODI runs.

Weerakkody was a part of the Sri Lankan side in the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2013 and 2017, and the 2018 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. She was also the part of Sri Lankan team that won the bronze medal in the 2014 Asian Games.

She last played an international game in 2018 and has been out of the team since.

Just last month, Weerakkody became the first woman cricketer from Sri Lanka to qualify as a fitness trainer from the Australian Institute of Fitness.

“This had been my dream as a female cricketer in the Sri Lankan National pool after 16 years of international cricket. Most people used to ask me why I was not to been seen on the field last year and this was the result of my absence,” she had said.

“Now I can train any international team and travel to any country for training with these qualifications.”