Vaas to retire from Test cricket

COLOMBO - Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas will retire from Test cricket after the third match against Pakistan in Colombo starting Monday.

Vaas announced his retirement plan here Sunday, but said he will continue to play One-day Internationals and Twenty20 cricket till the 2011 World Cup.

“I am officially retiring from Test cricket after the third Test against Pakistan, but will continue playing one-day and Twenty20 matches till the 2011 World Cup,” Vaas said.

Vaas has been a successful bowler for Sri Lanka in a career spanning 15-years. He made his debut against Pakistan in 1994 and went on to take 354 wickets in 110 Tests, the sceond highest wicket taker for the island country after Muttiah Muralitharan, who has claimed 770 wickets in 127 Tests.

He also scored 3085 Test runs at 24.48, which includes a century against Bangladesh.

Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara lauded the pacer’s achievements, calling him a “legend”.

“He is a true champion and probably the only Sri Lankan fast bowler who can be called a true legend of the game,” he said.

“No matter who replaces Vaas in the bowling attack, they will take years to reach the standards he has set.”

Vaas was dropped from the Test side after the Karachi Test match earlier this year.

Sri Lanka’s chief selector Ashantha de Mel had said this month that Vaas retired from Test cricket but the fast bowler denied.

Having reclaimed his position for the final Test against Pakistan, the 36-year-old Vaas chose to call it a day.