Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya is seeking divorce from his former airline flight-attendant wife six months after their marriage, a family friend said in Colombo yesterday.

Jayasuriya (28), filed papers in court last week seeking divorce from his wife Sumudhu Karunanayake, saying the marriage was detrimental to his cricketing career, the friend said.

He said Jayasuriya, who was adjudged the man of the series in the 1996 World Cup which Sri Lanka won, claimed he was deserted by his wife and the marriage was causing him serious anguish and affecting his playing.