Kumar Sangakkara to become MCC president

The former wicketkeeper batsman was introduced as the successor to current incumbent Anthony Wreford at the organisation's annual general meeting at Lord's on Wednesday

Sri Lankan great Kumar Sangakkara is to take on the role of MCC president later this year.

The former wicketkeeper batsman was introduced as the successor to current incumbent Anthony Wreford at the organisation's annual general meeting at Lord's on Wednesday.

Sangakkara will not take up the role formally until October but he will shadow Wreford during the World Cup and Ashes this summer as he prepares for the post.

He will become the first non-British president of the famous club.

The 41-year-old played in 594 international matches for Sri Lanka over the course of a long and distinguished career, making more than 27,500 runs across cricket's three formats.

He retired from first-class cricket in 2017 but has continued to appear in franchise competitions around the world since.

Over the course of the past 12 months, however, Sangakkara has segued into the media - both broadcast and written - and has become a highly thought-of commentator on the elite game.

It is expected, however, that he will scale back his media commitments when he takes on his new position at the MCC in October.

Sangakkara was put forward as the next president by Wreford, with his nomination being run past the MCC committee earlier on Wednesday.

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