5 legendary cricketers who will not be playing the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup

#2) Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)

Kumar Sangakkara

One of the best batsmen of the game has ever seen, the former Sri Lankan wicket keeper batsman made his ODI debut back in July, 2000 vs Pakistan. He represented his Nation in a staggering 404 ODIs, thereby appearing in four ICC Cricket World Cups (2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015). Sri Lanka, who made the semi-finals in the 2003 World Cup finished as the runners-up to Australia and India in the next two editions- 2007 and 2011. Sangakkara was one of the best wickets-keepers of his generation with more than 400 catches and nearly 100 stumpings to his name in the ODIs.

Sangakkara, who was the captain of the Sri Lankan side when they co-hosted the tournament in 2011 along with India and Bangladesh led them to the finals where they lost to India by six wickets. In the 2015 World Cup (in Australia and New Zealand), Sangakkara scored centuries in the group matches against Bangladesh, England, Australia and Scotland and thereby became the first ever batsman to hit four consecutive centuries in many innings in ODIs.

Sri Lanka were knocked out in the Quarterfinals against South Africa at the 2015 World Cup under the captaincy of Angelo Mathews. Unfortunately, that turned out to be his last ODI match of his career that spanned 15 years. Sangakkara is not just Sri Lanka's highest run scorer in the ODIs, but also the second highest run-getter of all-time in the ODIs. Fans at the 2019 World Cup will no doubt miss the stylish southpaw, who was one of the 'True Gentleman' of the game.

ODI stats: Matches-404, Runs-14234, Average-41.99, Highest score-169, Catches-402, Stumpings-99