Kumar Sangakkara nominated as next president of MCC

Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara will become the next President of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the current President, Anthony Wreford, announced at the MCC Annual General Meeting on Wednesday at Lord’s.

Sangakkara, who will begin his tensure on October 1 this year and will conclude on September 30, 2020, will become the first non-British president.

The former Sri Lanka captain, who is already heavily involved with MCC and delivered a powerful and memorable MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture in 2011, was elated with his new role.

“It is a huge honour to be named the next President of MCC and it is a role that I am thoroughly looking forward to. For me, MCC is the greatest cricket club in the world, with its global reach and continued progress for cricket on and off the pitch,” Sangakkara was quoted as saying on the Lord’s website.

Introducing MCC's next President…

???? Congratulations, @KumarSanga2.

— Lord's Cricket Ground ???? (@HomeOfCricket) May 1, 2019

Sangakkara appears twice on the Honours Boards at Lord’s, with both innings coming in 2014. He hit 147 in the Test Match draw with England, and 112 in Sri Lanka’s One-Day International victory over the same opposition.

His tenure will include two England Test matches against West Indies and Pakistan and the launch of The Hundred competition.

“As MCC looks to broaden both our horizons and international reputation, I’m delighted that Kumar has accepted the invitation, which he did in January this year, to be the next President of MCC. He is an outstanding individual both on and off the field and will make a huge contribution to the Club. In a World Cup and Ashes year he will also have a significant role to play as President Designate,” MCC President, Anthony Wreford said.