Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera announces retirement from international cricket

Sri Lanka all-rounder Thisara Perera on Monday announced his retirement from international cricket, Sri Lanka Cricket said, adding that the 32-year-old wanted to focus on family life and making way for youngsters in the senior national team.

Thisara Perera, who made his international debut in 2009, has featured in 6 Tests, 166 ODIs and 84 T20Is in his 12-year-long international career. Perera has hit 2,338 runs and picked up 135 wickets in ODI cricket while he managed 51 wickets and



1204 runs in T20I cricket.

Thisara Perea was also part of Sri Lanka's 2014 T20 World Cup-winning team. Perera hit a 14-ball 23 and remained unbeaten as Sri Lanka defeated India in the final of the T20 spectacle in Dhaka.

"I take pride in the fact that I was able to represent Sri Lanka in seven cricket World Cups, and be a contributing member of the 2014 T20 World Cup win against India in Bangladesh," Perera said in a statement. "Easily the highlight of my life."