Kumar Sangakkara announced as first non-British President of MCC

Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara was announced as the first non-British President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Wednesday and he will take up his one-year post on October 1, 2019.

Sangakkara's nomination was announced by the MCC's current President Anthony Wreford, at the MCC Annual General Meeting at Lord's Cricket Ground.

"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. 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," Kumar Sangakkara said in an official statement.

"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," he added.

Sangakkara appears twice on the Honours Boards at Lord's, with both innings coming in 2014. He hit 147 in the Test Match against England, and 112 in Sri Lanka's One-Day International victory over the same opposition.

"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," current President of MCC, Anthony Wreford said in an official statement.

Sangakkara's tenure as MCC President will come to an end on September 30, 2020.