In an hour-long speech at the MCC Spirit of Cricket - Cowdrey Lecture that earned him a standing ovation, Sangakkara slammed Sri Lanka Cricket for corrupt practices and hinted that he was forced to step down from captaincy after only two years at the helm.

Sangakkara said the country's cricket administration has turned "from a volunteer-led organisation run by well-meaning men of integrity into a multi-million-dollar organisation that has been in turmoil ever since."

Although he didn't take Sanath Jayasuriya's name, he did express his displeasure at how the cricketer-turned-politician was recalled into the team for a one-off Twenty20 and the first ODI against England.

Without taking names, Sangakkara voiced his concern at the direction the sport in his country is now heading. "Players from within the team itself became involved in power games within the board.

Officials elected to power in this way in turn manipulated player loyalty to achieve their own ends. At times, board politics would spill over into the team causing rift, ill feeling and distrust," he said.