Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who played five ODIs and 18 Twenty20 Internationals for Sri Lanka, has announced his international retirement with immediate effect.
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In a shocking development in Sri Lanka Cricket, 30-year-old Bhanuka Rajapaksa has announced his decision to retire from international cricket with immediate effect. Rajapaksa, who has played five ODIs and 18 T20Is in a career spanning a couple of years, has apparently handed the retirement letter to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. It is not known whether the Board authorities have accepted his decision.
But, if local reports are to be believed, Rajapaksa has stated family obligations for the big decision. “I have very carefully considered my position as a player, husband and am taking this decision looking forward to fatherhood and associated familial obligations,” Rajapaksa reportedly wrote. But, other reports have stated that the recent revision of Sri Lanka’s fitness standard by the Board might have been a contributing factor.
The Skin Fold Test seems to be the major sticking point. The Skin Fold Test is a technique to estimate how much fat is on the body. It involves using a device called a caliper to lightly pinch the skin and underlying fat in several places. This quick and simple method of estimating body fat requires a high level of skill to get accurate results.
JUST IN: Bhanuka Rajapaksa resigns from Sri Lanka Cricket with immediate effect. pic.twitter.com/iAHgZs3JxC
— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) January 5, 2022
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The Skin Fold Test level was initially 85 but it has now been reduced to 70. Bhanuka Rajapaksa has felt that this could affect his power-hitting capabilities. The time for the 2km running Test has also been reportedly reduced from 8.55 minutes to 8.10 minutes. In the past, Bhanuka Rajapaksa criticised selection policies after being left out for fitness concerns.
Rajapaksa was handed a one-year suspended ban but he made a comeback to the ICC World T20 2021. The likes of Lasith Malinga have tweeted that Rajapaksa should reconsider his decision to retire from international cricket as he could contribute a lot more.
Rajapaksa was the leading run-getter in the 2010 ICC Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. After toiling in domestic cricket, Rajapaksa was included in the Sri Lanka side in the series against Pakistan. In the first two games against Pakistan, he smashed 32 and 77 to help Sri Lanka beat Pakistan. Rajapaksa scored only one more fifty. But it came in a winning cause against Bangladesh in Sharjah during the World T20.
In the same year, before the ICC World T20, Rajapaksa made his ODI debut. He smashed 65 in the third ODI as Sri Lanka won the match. However, his last two matches against South Africa saw him fall for 0.
