Sri Lankan cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara set to become next MCC President

Sri Lanka cricket legend Kumar Sangakkara will take over as MCC President on 1 October for one year.

Kumar Sangakkara's nomination was announced on Wednesday, May 2 at Lord's by the current President, Anthony Wreford, at the MCC Annual General Meeting. The Sri Lankan will become the first non-British President of the club.

The appointment marks further involvement in the club for Sangakkara, who delivered the 2011 Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture and in 2012 was awarded Honorary Life Membership. That year, he also joined MCC's World Cricket committee, of which he is still a member.

Marylebone Cricket Club (the MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's cricket ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, London, England.

“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," Sangakkara told the Lord'swebsite. "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.

"The year 2020 is going to be yet another significant one in cricket, especially at Lord’s, and I am thrilled that I am going to be able to play a part in supporting its future as President of MCC.”

His presidency will oversee England Test matches at Lord's played against West Indies and Pakistan. More notably, perhaps, the first year of The Hundred and the launch of a franchise based at the Home of Cricket will also occur during his term.

A young Kumar Sangakkara kept wicket for Sri Lanka versus MCC at Chesterfield in 2002 (Image: ICC/Getty)

Sangakkara twice made it onto the Lord's Honours Board in 2014 for innings played during Sri Lanka's tour of England. The MCC immortalised Sangakkara further by commissioning paintings of him and fellow Sri Lankan Mahela Jayawardene, which were unveiled in 2017.

MCC President, Anthony Wreford, said: “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.”