KARACHI: While preparing for the first of three Tests against Sri Lanka, Pakistan will be mighty relieved upon learning on Sunday that the legendary Kumar Sangakkara, currently top-ranked Test batsman, will figure in only the first two matches against Misbah-ul-Haq’s side.

According to official sources from the Sri Lankan camp, former skipper Sangakkara — currently Test cricket’s fifth highest scorer with 12,203 runs in 130 matches — would play another Test against India in August before calling time on a glittering international career which began in July 2000.

Prior to that game — the first of three against India — Sangakkara will just play the first two Tests against Pakistan in Galle (June 17-21) and Colombo (P. Sara Oval, June 25-29), while skipping the final Test at the Pallekele International Stadium, starting from July 3 and fly back to England to honour his commitment with county side Surrey, with whom he signed a two-year deal earlier in the year.

The scourge of Pakistan bowlers over the years, Sangakkara ended his One-day International career during the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand when Sri Lanka exited at the quarter-final stage after losing to South Africa in Sydney. During the mega event, Sangakkara hit a record four centuries, while amassing 541 runs in seven matches — the second highest aggregate behind New Zealand opener Martin Guptill’s 547.

The elegant left-hander, who was born in the town of Matale in the Sri Lankan Central Province on 27 Oct, 1977, finished his T20 career on a high when Sri Lanka defeated India to win the 2014 World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.

Sangakkara has already intimated to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) that he would commit his availability for just three further Tests because of county duty.

A firm decision is expected to be taken on Tuesday when Sangakkara, who is preparing for the first Pakistan Test at the Galle International Stadium beginning from Wednesday, will meet national selectors in the coastal town before making an official announcement.

The first Test against India is tentatively slated to start in Galle from Aug 18 but the SLC is likely to switch the venue to Pallekele on the outskirt of Kandy which is Sangakkara’s home town.

Although he didn’t formally announced he would be quitting all forms of international cricket, many felt Sangakkara would follow long-time teammate and close friend Mahela Jayawardene into retirement. But SLC persuaded him to carry on for at least couple of series to make a smooth transition to a new era in Sri Lanka cricket.

The main reason behind Sangakkara’s volte-face is his cherished dream of equalling, if not surpassing, Sir Donald Bradman’s Test record of 12 double centuries. He has converted 11 out of 38 three-figure knocks into multiple hundreds with a best of 319 against Bangladesh at Chittagong last year.

Pakistan have been easily Sangakkara’s most favoured opposition. In 21 Tests against them, he has plundered 2809 runs at a stupendous average of 80.25 with 230 the highest of his 10 centuries. Against Pakistan, no other batsman has scored more runs or hundreds than Sangakkara.

In the last series against Pakistan in August 2014 — which was Jayawardene’s Test swansong — Sangakkara made 221 in the first Test at Galle to lay foundation of a seven-wicket victory before top-scoring with 59 in the second innings of the final Test at Colombo’s SSC Ground as Sri Lanka sealed a 105-run win to wrap up the series.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2015

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