da realsbet： Veteran Sri Lankan batsman Aravinda de Silva, who announced on Friday thathe would retire after the ICC World Cup next year, has been asked toconsider extending his 18-year career by Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore andcaptain Sanath Jayasuriya
CricInfo29-Sep-2002Veteran Sri Lankan batsman Aravinda de Silva, who announced on Friday thathe would retire after the ICC World Cup next year, has been asked toconsider extending his 18-year career by Sri Lanka coach Dav Whatmore andcaptain Sanath Jayasuriya.De Silva had announced his decision to hang up his boots after playing astarring role in Sri Lanka’s seven-wicket win against Australia. De Silvahad won the man of the match award for a miserly 10-over spell of off-spinthat turned the game.The decision had not been unexpected. The 36-year-old, who has played 286one-day internationals and is Sri Lanka’s highest run scorer in form formsof the game, had made it clear that he wanted to leave on high – the WorldCup would be the perfect finale.”I am definitely going to finish after the World Cup,” said De Silva. “Ihave to speak to selectors and see if they want me for the World Cup. Thereare some good youngsters coming through in Sri Lankan cricket and I wouldlike to go out on a high note.”But Whatmore and captain Jayasuriya, who were not aware of De Silva’sintentions, pleaded with him to think long and hard before bidding farewellto the game.”I recognise he’s got a family life and a business life and it’s theweighing up of those factors that’s probably got him to make his assessmentof where he is at the moment and where he would like to go,” Whatmore said.He added: “I just think that playing with us up to and through the World Cupmust be a minimum amount of cricket he should play. From my point of view asa coach he’s been wonderful to the team.”It’s the experience he brings, not just with bat and ball but also in areasthat are difficult to quantify. It’s in the team room, the team meetings,the dressing rooms, and the bus travel. It’s that extra experience, thatcalming influence and it’s an asset that means I hope he plays on as long ashe can.”Jayasuriya added: “Personally I think he can play on a lot more.”