COLOMBO: Sri Lanka seamer Chaminda Vaas will retire from test cricket after the third test against Pakistan starting Monday.

"Let me officially announce my retirement from test cricket after playing the third test match against Pakistan. I wish to continue playing ODIs and T20 till the World Cup," Vaas told reporters Sunday.

The 35-year-old left-armer's decision came days after his surprise inclusion in Sri Lanka's final test squad following a public row with chief selector Ashantha de Mel.

De Mel announced that Vaas would retire from tests, to which the bowler reacted by saying he did not intend retiring soon.

Vaas said Sunday that he will explain his about-fact after the match.

Making his debut against Pakistan in 1995, Vaas went on to play 110 test matches for his country taking 354 wickets, becoming the second highest wicket taker for Sri Lanka after Muttiah Muralitharan's 770.

In his later years Vaas tuned his batting to become a useful allrounder with more than 3,000 test runs.

"It's a sad day when such a great player goes out of test cricket," Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said. "He has thought long and hard.

"Vaasy has got a great part to play in our one-day set up until the World Cup." Sangakkara praised Vaas' success, mostly bowling on subcontinent pitches that are unresponsive to seam bowling.

"Where spinners do well Vaasy had reveled," Sangakkara said.

"No matter who replaces Vaasy in the lineup they will take years and years to reach the standards that he has. May be they never will.

"He's a true champion, probably the only Sri Lankan fast bowler (who is) a true legend of the game."