Why does Dimuth Karunaratne Want to Step Down as Sri Lanka's Test Captain?

Karunaratne will step down as SL Test skipper [Twitter]

In a surprising turn of events, Sr i Lanka's Test captain, Dimuth Karunaratne desires to step down from his post after the Ireland Tests next month.

Karunaratne has had a conversation with the Sri Lankan board regarding the matter, but they have not accepted his resignation as of yet.

After four years in Test job and almost taking Sri Lanka to the World Test Championship finals (WTC), Karunaratne reckons it is the right time to step down from his post and groom somebody else ahead of the next WTC cycle.

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Here's what Karunaratne said

"I've talked with the selectors about stepping down as captain after the Ireland series. In the next WTC cycle, you've got to do two years," Karunaratne said. "I think it's best if a new captain does that whole cycle than for me to do half and hand over. 

I've talked to the selectors about this, but I haven't got a response yet. My preference is to hand over to a new leader after the next series."

It has been a topsy-turvy tenure for the 34-year-old, who has marshalled his troops to perfection under tough circumstances.

Ahead of their New Zealand tour, Sri Lanka had a great chance to qualify for the WTC finals, but they lost both the Test matches, and results in the Border-Gavaskar series didn't go in their favour as the Lankan Lions crashed out of the race.

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