COLOMBO: Sri Lankan spinner Rangana Herath said on Saturday that he will decide the future of his career after the completion of the 2016 World Twenty20 in India.

The slow left-armer has been a consistent performer for Sri Lanka since the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan, accounting for 207 wickets from 41 Tests at an average of 27.58.

The 37-year-old stood out as the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2014, with 60 scalps from 10 games.

Herath said that with his age and injury issues, he has been struggling to maintain fitness in the last couple of years.

“With my age you cannot perform the way you did some 10-15 years ago. From my fitness I am doing the maximum with the injury, I am struggling a little bit on it,” he said. “I cannot give a guarantee with my bowling or my fitness. I am trying to retain whatever energy I have and to prolong my career.

“I have reduced the number of one-day matches and play only Tests.”

Since 2010, only four bowlers have taken more than 200 wickets and Herath is the only spinner among the four.

With Sri Lanka heading into the World T20 as defending champions, Herath will make a decision on retirement only after the tournament is over.

“If I put a target to end my career I will not be able to give my maximum to the team. Every time I play I look to give 100 per cent to the team,” the spinner added. “We are the reigning champions and we have a good chance of defending it with the present team although they lack in a bit in experience.”

Sri Lanka are currently scheduled to play a two-match Test series against West Indies against whom Herath has only eight wickets at an average of 43.50.

Herath has belief that Sri Lanka can win the series but is aware that his bowling performance will be key to achieving that result against West Indies.

“I am confident that I can do what I have been doing in the past and have great belief if I bowl well we have a good chance of winning the series.”

Published in Dawn, October 11th , 2015

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