Dubai, Aug 24 (IANS): International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson paid tribute to former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, who retired from international cricket on Monday.

“By scoring a total of 28,016 runs across all three formats, he puts himself in the higher echelons of players to ever grace the game. But he also made a considerable contribution off the field and carried the weight of expectation of a passionate Sri Lanka supporting public, as he did his batting, with great class," Richardson was quoted as saying in a release.

“The high esteem in which he is also held by his peers is emphasised by the fact that he was invited to deliver the prestigious 2011 MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture at Lord’s, becoming the first active player to do so. Kumar was also a valued member of the ICC Cricket Committee from 2007 to 2015," he added.

"In stepping off the field of play for the last time we wish Kumar and his family well and thank him for his enormous contribution to the game."

Sangakkara has played 134 Tests for Sri Lanka in his 15-year international career, scoring 12,400 runs. He also has 182 catches to his credit (131 catches as a wicket-keeper) as well as 20 stumpings.

He has also played in 404 one-dayers (14,234 runs) and 56 T20 Internationals (1,382 runs).

He also led Sri Lanka in 15 Tests, 45 ODIs and 22 T20s. One of his finest hours came when he inspired Sri Lanka to the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2011.

Sangakkara was selected in the ICC Test team of the year on seven occasions - 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014 and has won the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for the ICC Cricketer of the Year, as well as the Test Player of the Year, in Colombo in 2012. He was also named ICC ODI Player of the Year in 2011 and 2013.