COLOMBO – Kumar Sangakkara has said that the Sri Lankan board should choose a long-term captain as his successor. Sangakkara believes both Tillakaratne Dilshan and Angelo Mathews are ready for captaincy. “If you want to go for Dilshan, give him the confidence for a long term,” Sangakkara told ESPN cricinfo. “Don’t give the captaincy to Dilshan and say, “You are just going to be captain for a year and half”. It’s not going to be good for him, and it won’t be good for the team.”
“Both Dilshan and Angelo are suitable. If they think Angie is too young, then Dilshan will do a good job because he has these little touches for success. Anything he does on the field, he has this little knack. I don’t know whether he will be the long-term candidate with his age, but if he keeps himself fit and he can easily play the next World Cup. “Or they can take the plunge with Angelo. That is where the selectors have to really make a call. Pressure will have to be shared, if they make a call and if things don’t go well in the first or second year, they will have to be strong. To expect too much right away will be a real danger.”
Reflecting on his own decision to resign, Sangakkara admitted that it was partly selfish but said that the decision was based on what he felt was good for Sri Lanka.
