May 14, 2006	Sunday	Rabi-us-Sani 15, 1427

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LONDON, May 13: Sanath Jayasuriya has insisted the President of Sri Lanka played no role in his decision to end his retirement from Test cricket.

The 36-year-old former Sri Lanka captain, who arrived in England on Saturday, could only watch from beyond the boundary at Lord's while his erstwhile team-mates followed-on in the first Test after being bowled out for just 192 in reply to England's first innings 551 for six declared.

It is less than a month since Jayasuriya said he was quitting Test cricket in order to concentrate on one-day internationals in the build-up to next year's World Cup in the Caribbean.

But he insisted his decision to make himself available again for the five-day game was down to newly-appointed chairman of selectors Asantha De Mel and not Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“Asantha de Mel is the chairman of selectors and he was the one who contacted me.

“He was the one who changed my mind, and after discussions with various people involved in my career,” he also told Sky Sports.—AFP