<p>Dashing batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan today stepped down as Sri Lanka captain following his side's dismal performance in South Africa where they lost both the Test and ODI series.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Veteran batsman Mahela Jayawardene is likely to replace him as captain but Sri Lanka Cricket is yet to make any formal announcement.<br /><br />The 35-year-old Dilshan has sent in his resignation from South Africa, where Sri Lanka concluded their tour yesterday. Sri Lanka lost the three-match Test series 1-2 and five-match ODI series 2-3.<br /><br />Dilshan's resignation did not come as a surprise as under him Sri Lanka lost away series to <br />England, Pakistan and South Africa while also failing to win against Australia at home. He took over captaincy from Kumar Sangakkara after Sri Lanka's six-wicket defeat against India in the World Cup final in April last year.<br /><br />Dilshan's own form with the bat dipped during his captaincy and despite a historic Test win in <br />Durban, Sri Lanka's first on South African soil, the loss in the Test and ODI series had him under pressure.<br /><br />The continued failure by Sri Lanka prompted the Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to sack the national selection committee last week and replaced it with a new team.<br /><br />Coach Geoff Marsh, the former Australian opening batsman, was also asked to quit and he was replaced by Graham Ford, who coached South Africa between 1999 and 2002.</p>
<p>Dashing batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan today stepped down as Sri Lanka captain following his side's dismal performance in South Africa where they lost both the Test and ODI series.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Veteran batsman Mahela Jayawardene is likely to replace him as captain but Sri Lanka Cricket is yet to make any formal announcement.<br /><br />The 35-year-old Dilshan has sent in his resignation from South Africa, where Sri Lanka concluded their tour yesterday. Sri Lanka lost the three-match Test series 1-2 and five-match ODI series 2-3.<br /><br />Dilshan's resignation did not come as a surprise as under him Sri Lanka lost away series to <br />England, Pakistan and South Africa while also failing to win against Australia at home. He took over captaincy from Kumar Sangakkara after Sri Lanka's six-wicket defeat against India in the World Cup final in April last year.<br /><br />Dilshan's own form with the bat dipped during his captaincy and despite a historic Test win in <br />Durban, Sri Lanka's first on South African soil, the loss in the Test and ODI series had him under pressure.<br /><br />The continued failure by Sri Lanka prompted the Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage to sack the national selection committee last week and replaced it with a new team.<br /><br />Coach Geoff Marsh, the former Australian opening batsman, was also asked to quit and he was replaced by Graham Ford, who coached South Africa between 1999 and 2002.</p>