Sri Lanka see the perfect ambassador in Sangakkara
COLOMBO: Cricket diplomacy is nothing new to the subcontinent. In Sri Lanka, the game has been one of the biggest positive influences with Kumar Sangakkara among the biggest ambassadors of the game for the country.
As he called time on a memorable 15-year international career on Monday, Sri Lanka president, Maithripala Sirisena, announced that he wanted the batsman to fly the country’s flag in a different capacity. Speaking at Sangakkara’s farewell function at the P Sara ground, he asked the player to consider taking over as high commissioner to the United Kingdom.
Sangakkara, 37, was studying to be a lawyer when his cricket career took off in 2000. He is easily the most articulate cricketer to come out of the island, with cricketing achievements lending weight to his words, as when he delivered the MCC Spirit of Cricket lecture at the Lord’s.
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Sangakkara though said he will have to think it over. “I’ve only got one invitation so far,” he laughed when asked whether it was a prelude to a political career. “I respect the President’s request. I need to talk more to his Excellency about it. I’m very inexperienced in such things.” India too has had its cricket ambassador, KS Duleepsinhji serving as high commissioner to Australia and New Zealand though he played Tests for England.
Sangakkara had regained his composure by the time he came for the media interaction, talking about the bowlers who troubled him, trying his hand at cooking and the future of Sri Lanka cricket. “It never hits you until you finish the cricket, then you are out there talking about yourself in the past tense,” he said.
Were his eyes moist as it is said Don Bradman’s was when he walked out to play his last innings? “I think I just couldn’t see the ball Ashwin bowled to me four times in a row,” he joked. “Every other ball, I saw pretty well.”
Realisation that his career had ended hit him when he returned to the dressing room after his final innings ended on 18. “When I was walking off and all the Indian players came and shook my hands is when it hit me. Going back into the dressing room and taking the pads off, it just hits you that it is the last time you will be doing that in national colours. There is a note of finality in that.”