2015 will be my last World Cup: Sangakkara

Having announced his retirement from T20 internationals, Kumar Sangakkara today said that he would like to call time on his ODI career after the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The veteran Sri Lankan batsman termed it a "natural progression".

"As far as ODI and Test cricket are concerned, it's hard to make a time frame. I am 36 years old now and  will be 37 next year during the time of World Cup. By next World Cup, I will be 41 and I don’t hope that I am playing then. So 2015 World Cup will be my last.

It's a a kind of natural progression," Sangakkara said during an interaction during the open session of Sri Lankan team today.

"For Test cricket, form, fitness and enjoyment factors are there for you to continue. There is no denying I am in the twilight of my career," he said.

With Mahela Jayawardene also announcing his retirement from T20 Internationals, the transition phase in Lankan cricket is about to start just like it happened in India a few years back. But Sangakkara felt that Lahiru Thirimanne and Dinesh Chandimal are two players who will carry the Sanga-Mahela legacy.

"I think it's going to be fine. If you look at Thirimanne and Chandimal, they are ready to play in any form of cricket. I think that if me and Mahela decide to quit today, tomorrow or whenever we do, it's not going to make a huge difference.

"Angelo Mathews is maturing as the Test and ODI captain. Dinesh is also a young captain. Sri Lankan cricket is in very good hands," said the man who has played 122 Tests, 369 ODIs besides 50 T20 Internationals.

According to Sangakkara, the key to success is to withstand the rigours of international cricket for long time.

"The key is to refine the talent and make the players ready to withstand the pressures of international cricket. And it's not just for one or two years but for longer periods," he said.

While Sangakkara is calling it quits as far as T20 Internationals are concerned, the veteran left-hander will continue playing franchisee based T20 cricket.