Former Sri Lanka player TM Dilshan has gained Australian Citizenship, as per reports.
Tillakaratne Dilshan, aka TM Dilshan, has obtained Australian citizenship following a citizenship ceremony, Australian MP Jason Wood said.
Dilshan is regarded as the best Sri Lankan player in run-chases in ODI history. He also holds the record for being the top run scorer in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup with 500 runs and scored a century against England in the semi-final. Additionally, he was part of the Sri Lankan team that won the 2014 ICC World Twenty20,” the MP posted on social media.
Dilshan has been a stalwart of the game, having played international cricket for Sri Lanka for 17 years.
The 47-year-old has represented the Lankans in 87 Tests, 330 ODIs and 80 T20Is – scoring more than 17,000 international runs in the process and picking up 154 international wickets across all formats.
The former Lanka player has graced the IPL stage with Royal Challengers Bangalore and has scored 1153 runs during his six-year-long stint at RCB.
He currently lives in Australia with wife Manjula Thilini and his four children. As a new Aussie and local resident, the MP said that he hopes Dilshan will play for a local cricket team and continue spreading his knowledge to the local youngsters.
Dilshan receiving Australian citizenship means that the former Sri Lanka player won’t be holding a Sri Lankan passport anymore. The Island country doesn’t allow dual citizenship, hence from now on, he will be requiring a passport and visa. Enter his native country.