Sangakkara excelled in many sports and his college principal encouraged him to focus on cricket. He represented his school's Under-13, Under-15, Under-17, Under-19 and first XI squads and was awarded his school's The Trinity Lion award and Ryde Gold Medal. Sangakkara was selected to represent Sri Lankan A cricket team's tour to South Africa in 1998–99. His knock of an unbeaten 156 against Zimbabwe A team during a one-day match, helped him secure a place in the Sri Lankan national cricket team later that year.