Thilan Samaraweera expresses desire to retire

Sri Lanka middle order batsman Thilan Samaraweera has expressed his desire to retire, according to a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) press release on Tuesday.

"Test Cricketer Thilan Samaraweera handed over a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket Secretary Mr Nishantha Ranatunga expressing his intention to retire from all forms of International Cricket," The Sri Lanka Cricket press release said.

It further added: "SLC has requested Thilan to have a meaningful dialogue with the National Selectors prior to finalising such a decision. The 36-year-old is scheduled to meet the National Selectors on Wednesday."

Sources close to the batsman said he was disheartened by the treatment meted out to him when he was originally axed from the 20-member squad chosen for the upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh.

He was later included in the squad to replace former captain Mahela Jayawardena, who was going to miss the series through injury.

However, he was dropped on Monday from the final 16-member squad, which was announced for the first Test against Bangladesh, starting on Friday in Galle.

A veteran of 81 Tests, Samaraweera has amassed 5462 runs at an average of 48.76 and it includes 14 centuries.

Samaraweera, who is considered a highly dependable middle order batsman, is all set to play for Worcestershire in this summer's English county championship.

Samaraveera shared a record-breaking 4th-wicket partnership in Tests of 437 runs with Mahela Jayawardene against Pakistan in February 2009. The previous Test record was held by an English pair-Peter May and Colin Cowdrey-who put on 411 against West Indies at Birmingham in May 1957.

Samaraweera was shot in the leg during the terror attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009.