Manchester United congratulate Mahela Jayawardena on his retirement

Jayawardena all set to retire from Test Cricket

Manchester United took to their official facebook account to wish former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardena on his Test retirement. He announced his decision yesterday to retire from Test Cricket after the home series against South Africa and Pakistan.

“Sri Lanka cricket captain and big United fan Mahela Jayawardene has announced his plans to retire later this year. He visited us at Old Trafford recently, on his 37th birthday. All the best Mahela and congratulations on a fantastic career.” posted United as a tribute on their official facebook page.

They referred to his visit to the iconic stadium during his team’s tour to England where they won the series in all three formats, including their first ever Test series triumph.

It was his wife who decided to surprise him on his 37th birthday during the trip to Old Trafford since he has been a life long Manchester United fan.

He had already announced his retirement from T20 Cricket after a triumphant World Cup campaign earlier this year in Bangladesh, but his absence in Test Cricket will be a bigger blow to the national side.

The former Sri Lanka captain has 11,493 runs from 145 Tests in a career that has lasted 17 long years, scoring 48 half-centuries and 33 centuries at an average of 50.18 with a highest score of 374, against South Africa.

Fantastic birthday surprise organised by my lovely wife! Thank you Giggsy for the signed tshirt #ManUtd pic.twitter.com/sTQMeEz2Uw

— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) May 27, 2014