'Treat us properly': Suranga Lakmal opens up on heated exchange in Katunayake airport after India setback

Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Suranga Lakmal, who made his last international appearance in the Test series against India, was involved in an unprecedented incident upon his arrival to Bandaranaike International Airport, Katunayake on Thursday after returning from a 0-2 setback against the hosts. 

According to a report in dailymirror.lk, video footage showed  a heated argument between Lakmal and another individual upon the national team’s arrival at the Bandaranaike International Airport from India. 

Lakmal, who served the national team for more than a decade, highlighted that such incidents are unavoidable as every fan expects their team to win in all their matches. 

“When this particular person made a statement criticising  the team for losing the matches in India, I explained to him on the spot, it was just another incident,” he said in a media interaction adding that “such incidents are unavoidable.”

Lakmal also said that everyone expects the national team to win, but every time you can’t “but for cricketers, they should be able to accept both victory as well the defeat.”

“Hereafter I won’t be playing for the country, but I expect cricket lovers will treat our team members properly,” he added.

READ MORE: India vs Sri Lanka: ‘I knew I had to be attacking’ – Shreyas Iyer

Suranga Lakmal retires: What is next in store for the fast bowler?

Lakmal has already signed a two-year contract with Derbyshire where he will play under the watchful eyes of former Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur. He retired with 171 Test scalps to his name from 70 matches. 

“I’m indebted to Sri Lanka Cricket for giving me this astonishing opportunity and having faith in me to bring my motherland honour, as it has been (an) absolute pleasure to be associated with the board that shaped my professional life and also enriched my personal development,” he said in his retirement letter submitted to Sri Lanka Cricket.

“Experiencing county cricket is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time and the chance to work with Mickey again was something I couldn’t turn down.

“I’ve loved every second of my international career, and I would like to thank Sri Lanka for giving me the opportunity to live my dream. Hopefully I can bring that experience into this new challenge, to help the young bowlers, who are already making an impact at Derbyshire.”

Arthur, who joined Derbyshire as director of cricket last year, is keen on working with Lakmal again and believes in his credentials. “Suranga is among Sri Lanka’s all-time greats with the ball and it’s brilliant to be able to bring him to Derbyshire for the next two seasons, we have big ambitions for the project at Derbyshire, and Suranga’s decision to retire from international cricket and commit to the club shows he’s as excited about those plans as the other players and coaches.”