Sri Lankan Sports Minister wants Kumar Sangakkara to continue for another year

Kumar Sangakkara scored a staggering 541 runs in 7 matches at the recently concluded World Cup

Sri Lankan stalwart Kumar Sangakkara quit ODI cricket after Sri Lanka’s loss against South Africa in the quarterfinals of the 2015 World Cup. But Sri Lankan Sports Minister Navin Dissanayake, on Wednesday, has urged Sangakkara to re-consider his decision to retire from ODIs and wants the star batsman to play on for another year.

Dissanayake told reporters in Colombo that he hopes the overhaul of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) might help to change the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman’s mind.

"At this moment as the sports minister, I humbly request Kumar Sangakkara to render his service to the country for another one year period," Dissanayake said.

The minister further spoke about the appointment of an interim cricket body headed by former Test player Sidath Wettimuny, adding: "I spoke to him (Sanga) when I was in New Zealand. He was very disappointed about what was happening here (with the cricket administration). But now I think he might change his mind if Sidath talks to him."

Sangakkara is one of cricket's most endearing personalities both on and off the field. The left-hander produced some outstanding performances at the recently concluded World Cup and became the first batsman in the world to score 4 consecutive ODI hundreds. He is currently the number one batsman in the ICC rankings for Test batsmen and number two in ODIs.

The 37-year-old is expected to continue playing Test cricket for Sri Lanka this year and has already signed up for English county side Surrey.