Such is the epitome of legendary Muttiah Muralidaran’s greatness that in his era, the likes of many emerging spin bowlers, including leg spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi were somehow always overshadowed and found it hard to make their way into the national team.

Lokuarachchi, a leg break bowler started his domestic career with Bloomfield in 1999, before switching to the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), where he shone with 14 wickets in the Premier League. He then made his international debut in 2003 against Kenya in an ODI. A quiet Test debut followed against New Zealand. But, the leg spinner was more inclined towards the shorter version of the game, as he found it difficult than the longer one. A handy batsman in the lower middle order, “Loku” as he fondly known, was banned on disciplinary grounds in 2003, but soon bounced back for a place in the Sri Lankan team.

Lokuarachchi last played an ODI in 2007, and after a long gap of five years, was recalled to the Sri Lankan T20I squad for their home series against Pakistan.