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Dilshan quits captaincy

Dilshan steps down as skipper

01/23/2012 05:40:44 PM

Tillakaratne Dilshan has resigned as Sri Lanka captain after less than a year in the job, following a failed tour of South Africa.

Test and one-day series defeats to the Proteas proved to be the final straw for Dilshan who presided over a lean period in Sri Lankan cricket, as well as battling his own flailing form.

The loss in South Africa, which included 2-1 Test and 3-2 one-day reverses, followed Test series defeats in England and Australia, prompting Dilshan to step down as captain in all formats.

"Dilshan sent his resignation from the captaincy of the national team to Sri Lanka Cricket a short while ago," a Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) statement read, without naming a successor.

"Members of the executive committee take this opportunity to thank Dilshan for his commitment and dedication during his tenure as the national captain."

"We also wish him well as he continues to represent Sri Lanka as a national player."

Since taking over from Kumar Sangakkara after the 2011 World Cup, Dilshan's form with the bat has slumped and despite a historic Test win in Durban, Sri Lanka's first on South African soil, losses in the respective Test and ODI series put him under fire.

Dilshan's Test average slipped from 40.9 to 33.6 during his tenure while the captaincy seemed to have even more of an adverse affect on his ODI figures with the number dropping to 20.95 compared to his overall average of 34.68.

More changes are in the wings following the tour of South Africa with the country's cricket board having appointed a new selection panel with Ashantha de Mel as chairman, while coach Geoff Marsh is set to be replaced by South African Graham Ford.

SLC is expected to offer the captaincy to Mahela Jayawardene.

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images

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