Vaas mulls international retirement

Chaminda Vaas, the Sri Lankan medium-pacer, has said he's contemplating international retirement after failing to make the World Cup squad. Vaas, who is two weeks away from his 37th birthday, retired from Tests in 2009 and hasn't played internationals limited-overs in two-and-a-half years.

He had repeatedly stated that his goal was to play in the 2011 World Cup, and was included in the preliminary 30-man squad for the tournament but left out of the final list.

"I tried my best, but my performances have not been good enough to get me selected," Vaas told the BBC. "I wish the team very good luck and hope they bring the World Cup back to Sri Lanka again."

Vaas has been among the wickets for Colts Cricket Club in the Sri Lankan domestic one-dayers, taking eight in three matches at an average of 7.13 over the past week. He also had a great run in the Friends Provident t20 series for Northamptonshire, taking 23 wickets at 15.82 and a miserly economy-rate of 6.33. He turned in several match-turning performances in the IPL for Deccan Chargers in 2010, but they were not enough to earn him a contract at last weekend's auction in Bangalore.

"I haven't finally decided, but I will make my mind up after the World Cup whether to retire from international matches."

Vaas and Sanath Jayasuriya, another winner of the 1996 World Cup, were left out of the World Cup squad by a selection panel headed by Aravinda de Silva, the Man of the Match in the semi-final and final when Sri Lanka became champions in 1996.

Vaas is widely regarded as Sri Lanka's finest ever fast bowler, having taken 355 Test wickets and 400 in ODIs.