Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced the squad for the upcoming tri-series to be played in Bangladesh with Zimbabwe being the third team. The veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews has been appointed as the captain once again after he left the captaincy last year.
Sri Lankan cricket has been in a turmoil in the past couple of years and there has hardly been any stability in the camp. In 2017, the team tried 5 different captains and none of them could inspire to rejuvenate the game in the camp. Thisara Perera was the last captain in the recent limited overs series against India but under his leadership too, Sri Lanka succumbed to the hosts.
Now the selectors have gone back to Angelo Mathews and they have remarked that they want him to lead the side until the 2019 ODI World Cup. Chandika Hathurusingha, the head coach of Sri Lankan team, admitted that Mathews is the best person for the job at the moment.
“My reason for backing Angelo was that I needed the best person to lead the side. We wanted someone who was sure of his place on the side to lead the team,” Hathurusingha said.
Mathews also stated that the team required stability for the World Cup next year and hence he opted to take the responsibility again. “I thought about it and there are few reasons for me to take it again. We need to have stability leading up to the 2019 World Cup which is less than 18 months away,” Mathews said.
“I have known Hathu [Hathurasingha] for a long time. I know how he operates. He is not here to survive. It is very easy to work with him as he has his goals. He played a major part in me making this decision to take up the captaincy again. He is going to be an important part in the run-up to the World Cup campaign. The other countries are dying to take him as he is the best in the business. We have worked a lot together with the ‘A’ team and then with the senior team,” he added.
Sri Lanka’s squad for the tri-series
Angelo Mathews (c), Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Asela Gunaratne, Niroshan Dickwella, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Dushmantha Chameera, Shehan Madushanka, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandaka, Wanidu Hasaranga.
