Pic by Dimuthu Premaratne

Sri Lankan cricketer Upul Chandana reacts as he speaks during a media briefing that was called in Colombo to announce his retirement from international cricket.
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Sri Lanka allrounder Upul Chandana quit international cricket on Wednesday, frustrated at perceived ill-treatment by selectors who he claimed showed no recognition of his performances.

"I decided to retire from international cricket and have informed chief executive Duleep Mendis," Chandana told a news conference.

"I have no injuries whatsoever and I have been performing well and could have continued for a few more years. But I had to take this decision because I was not getting enough chances despite proving myself time and again," he said.

Chandana claimed selectors did not give him a fair chance to claim a place for the World Cup ended in April and also dumped him for the upcoming Twenty20 world championship between Sept.11-24 in South Africa.

"I was taken to India before the World Cup saying that I will be given an opportunity to compete for the last vacant spot. I was not given a match and I didn't even get to bat in the nets," he said.

"After the World Cup I was hopeful about playing the Twenty20. Now that I am not selected I decided to quit," he said.

Chandana, 35, made his limited-overs debut in 1994 and was part of the Sri Lanka squad that won the World Cup two years later.

A legspinner and a right-handed batsman, Chandana defied his age to also be one off the best fielders in world cricket.

Chandana picked up 151 wickets from 147 limited-overs international matches and scored 1,627 runs as a lower-order batsman.

However, he had fewer opportunities to play test matches. In 16 tests Chandana took 37 wickets including a 10-wicket match against world No.1 Australia.

Chandana will continue to play first-class cricket for Nondescripts Cricket Club.