Sangakkara named Sri Lanka captain

Kumar Sangakkara retained wicketkeeping duties in ODIs but no longer keeps in Tests

Kumar Sangakkara has been named Sri Lanka's new captain following the resignation of Mahela Jayawardene.

Jayawardene announced before the recent tour of Pakistan, which was ended prematurely by a terrorist attack on the Sri Lanka team bus, that he would be stepping down after the Test series.

Sangakkara, 31, who sustained a shrapnel wound in the attack, will now take charge for the World Twenty20 tournament which will take place in England in June.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan will serve as his deputy.

In 2006, Sangakkara gave up wicketkeeping for the Test team, handing the gloves to Prasanna Jayawardene, although he has remained behind the stumps in one-day cricket.

In the same year he shared a world record stand of 624 with Jayawardene against South Africa at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo.

Sangakkara, who also has training in law, is known for his intelligence and has long been tipped as a potential Sri Lanka captain.

Jayawardene, 31, won 15 out of his 28 Tests as captain of Sri Lanka, with seven defeats and six draws.