Dhaka: Top Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene said on Monday he would retire from international Twenty20 cricket after the World T20, 2014 in Bangladesh, days after a similar announcement from teammate Kumar Sangakkara.

In comments posted on the International Cricket Council website, the 36-year-old said he had taken the decision as he knew this tournament would be his last World Cup and he did not want to block a younger player.

"It makes more sense for a youngster to come into the mix and establish himself," said Jayawardene, who has played 49 T20 internationals and scored a record 1,335 runs for Sri Lanka.

Jayawardene has appeared in all four T20 World Cups and was the captain of the side which lost in the final of the last tournament, at home against the West Indies.

The elegant right-hander did not say how much longer he intended to play on in Test matches or ODIs. He is the highest scorer in Test match cricket among current players, with 11,319 runs from 143 matches.

He is also the seventh-highest scorer in the history of one-day cricket.

Sri Lanka, the world`s number one T20 side, are the favourites in Bangladesh -- especially after their recent victory in the Asia Cup.

Source: sport24.co.za

BDST: 1230 HRS, MAR 18, 2014