"He will resign with immediate effect as the ODI and T20 captain, but he has spoken to the selectors and offered to continue as the Test captain on an interim basis for the forthcoming series with England and Australia if this is considered helpful for the new captain," Sri Lanka Cricket said.[break]
Sangakkara said he was stepping down for the long-term interest of the team. “I would like to announce that after careful consideration I have concluded that it is in the best long-term interests of the team that I step down now as national captain so that a new leader can be properly groomed for the 2015 World Cup in Australia," he said in a statement.
“This was a decision I made prior to the 2011 World Cup," he said. "I will be 37 by the next World Cup and I cannot therefore be sure of my place in the team. It is better that Sri Lanka is led now by a player who will be at the peak of their career during that tournament."
“It has been a true honor and a great privilege to serve my country as captain during the past two years and, although bitterly disappointed that we could not win the final, I am very proud of the performances of the team," Sangakkara who was the third highest scorer in the 2011 World Cup added.
"I met with the selectors on Monday and I explained my reasons for my decision and I assured them of my fullest support in helping our new captain settle into the leadership," he further added.
He also said that he had no plans to retire from cricket. “I have no plans of retirement from international cricket at this stage and subject to form and fitness I would like to be considered for selection in all three formats of the game for the foreseeable future," Sangakkara who had already played 94 Tests and 291 ODIs said.
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