Dimuth Karunaratne the captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team, has decided to step down.

Sri Lankan cricket team captain Dimuth Karunaratne has expressed his desire to step down from his leadership position, citing the need to focus solely on his cricketing performance. The announcement came after the team's loss in the first Test against Pakistan by 4 wickets, during which Karunaratne had explained his decision to step down as the team captain.

In a media conference, Karunaratne stated that he had earlier informed the selection committee of his intention to step down, but was asked to wait a little longer. However, after the recent match, he feels that the time is right to leave the leadership post. "As a cricketer, I can concentrate fully. I see many people who are suitable for leadership of the team. They have come to a good place. We have the next Test series next February. Therefore, there is time to elect a new leader," Karunaratne said.

Reflecting on the first Test against Pakistan, team captain Timuth Karunaratne cited two key mistakes that cost them the match. He explained that the team failed to add big runs on the scoreboard in the first innings, with only Dhananjaya's marks standing out among the leading batsmen. Additionally, Pakistan created a good scoring relationship at the loss of 5 wickets for 100 runs, and the Sri Lankan team conceded three catches in that time, which contributed to their failure.

Karunaratne's decision to step down as the team captain has sparked discussions within the Sri Lankan cricket community, with many speculating on who will take up the role. However, with ample time before the next Test series in February, the team has the opportunity to carefully consider their options and elect a new leader who can guide them to future successes.