DHAKA: Sri Lanka batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan is set to retire from Test cricket. A Sri Lanka Cricket media release on Wednesday stated that Dilshan will hold a press conference on Thursday to make a formal announcement.

"I have taken this decision to allow Sri Lanka Cricket to groom another youngster in my place," Dilshan, 36, said on Wednesday.

"I was to announce my retirement after the Zimbabwe Test series but unfortunately the tour was postponed."

Sri Lanka was to tour Zimbabwe from October and the tour itinerary included two Tests. The aggressive opener made his Test debut in 1999 against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo and scored 163 in his second match. In a Test career spanning 14 years, Dilshan played 87 Tests and scored 5492 runs at an average of 40.98.

His 16 Test centuries included a career-best 193 against England at Lord`s in 2011 as captain.

Dilshan, however, will continue to play in the shorter formats for his country.

"I will discuss my future with the national selectors and if they need me I will play till the 2015 World Cup," Dilshan said.

Dilshan`s last Test appearance was against Bangladesh in March in Colombo, where he scored 0 and 57.

Source: Espncricinfo.com
BDST: 1410 HRS, OCT 09, 2013
RS/BSK