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Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan to quit internationals after ODI series with Australia

Tillakaratne Dilshan
Image: Tillakaratne Dilshan set to step down after an illustrious career

Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan will quit international cricket after the limited overs series against Australia, in September.

After the conclusion of the five-match ODI series, Sri Lanka and Australia will play two Twenty20 matches on September 6 and 9.

"I have decided to retire from the ODIs after the third match in Dambulla [on Sunday] and will play the two Twenty20s and then retire completely," the 39-year-old revealed on Thursday. 

Inventor of the famous "Dilscoop" ramp shot, Dilshan played the last of his 87 Tests in 2013 before quitting the longer format with 5492 runs and 39 wickets.

A wily off-spinner and one of the most agile Sri Lankan fielders, Dilshan scored 22 and 10 in the first two one-dayers of the ongoing five-match series against world champions Australia.

All square
All square

Sri Lanka level ODI series with Australia

Sri Lanka Cricket president Thilanga Sumathipala, added: "I together with my committee wish to extend our sincere appreciation and wish him the very best in his future endeavours."

According to media reports, the former captain was persuaded to retire as Sri Lanka build a new team under Angelo Mathews with an eye on the 2019 World Cup.

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Dilshan made his one-day debut against Zimbabwe in 1999 and went on to play 329 ODIs, amassing 10248 runs that included 22 hundreds, with an 86-plus strike rate.

He has also scored 1884 runs in 78 Twenty20 Internationals and was Sri Lanka's top scorer in this year's World Twenty20 in India.

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