Sri Lanka change venue

Sri Lanka has shifted the venue of the second Test against Pakistan next month by request to enable star batsman Mahela Jayawardene to bow out of Test cricket at his club ground in Colombo.

Sri Lanka Cricket in a statement on Wednesday said the request was made by Jayawardene's Sinhalese Sports Club.

The Test was originally scheduled to be at P Sara Oval, also in Colombo, from August 14-18.

Last week, Jayawardene informed SLC he will retire from Test cricket after the Pakistan tour.

Quick Single: Jayawardene calls stumps

"It was not an easy decision to make given that it has been a great privilege and honour representing my country during the past 18 years, but I believe this is the right time," the former Sri Lanka skipper said.

Jayawardene made his Test debut in August 1997 and has a remarkable record, including a high score of 374 to go with his 11,493 runs in 145 Tests at an average of 50.18 with 33 hundreds.

His 11,493 Test runs is equal sixth on the all-time list, alongside team-mate Kumar Sangakarra. A further 461 runs in his final four Tests would take him past West Indies legend Brian Lara.

Jayawardene has committed to one-day international cricket for Sri Lanka, with the ICC Cricket World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand next year.

In 420 ODIs, Jayawardene has scored 11,681 runs.

Sri Lanka's second Test against South Africa gets underway today at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo.

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