Vaas denies he was forced to retire

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s veteran seamer Chaminda Vaas insists his international career is not over despite retiring from Test cricket and finding himself dumped from the limited-overs game.

The left-armer, 35, ended his Test career at the end of the three-match series against Pakistan on Friday, saying he was still keen to play one-day and Twenty20 cricket till the 2011 World Cup. The selectors, however, did not pick Vaas in the 15-man squad for the upcoming five-match one-day series against Pakistan starting in Dambulla on July 30.

“I have not played one-day cricket for 11 months and during that time all the young fast bowlers have played very well and grabbed the opportunities with both hands. I am going to work hard to fight for my place.” Vaas rubbished media speculation that he was forced to retire from Test cricket after being overlooked for the first two matches against Pakistan and only included for the third after a deal with the selectors.