Sri Lankan batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa has been released from the national squad selected for the Afghanistan tour, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said today.

Issuing a statement, the SLC said that Rajapaksa has been released based on a request made by the cricketer.

The SLC further said that while submitting his request, Bhanuka Rajapaksa had revealed that he wishes to take a break from ODI cricket.

Meanwhile, SLC has refused to grant the no objection certificate to Bhanuka Rajapaksa to participate in the T10 series currently underway in Abu Dhabi.