Hours after Sri Lanka selectors and head coach Chandika Hathurasingha removed him from the shorter formats captaincy on Sunday, Angelo Mathews came out with a strong response. While, accepting the decision, Mathews has made it clear that the blame for Asia Cup debacle must not be put solely on him. Furthermore, he has made it clear that if selectors and coach feels that he is not fit enough, then he is ready to retire from the shorter formats.
In a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) CEO Ashley De Silva, Mathews has written that he feels that he has been made scapegoat.
“I write to you pursuant to the meeting held on Friday the 21st of September at SLC premises which was attended by all the selectors along with the national cricket coach Mr. Chandika Hathurusingha. At the meeting, the selection committee and the coach informed me to step down as the Sri Lanka captain of the ODI and T20 team. Though I was initially surprised, it was immediately felt that I have been made the scapegoat in the entire saga of Sri Lanka’s dismal performance against Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the Asia Cup.
I am Willing to take part of the blame but at the same time, feel betrayed and let down if the blame is solely put on me. As you know all decisions are taken through a mutual understanding with selectors and the head coach. And though I do not agree with the reasoning that the losses should be accrued single handed to the captaincy.
I however eagerly and wholeheartedly respect the request of the selection committee and the head coach in asking me to step down and to do so with immediate effect. You would recall that i relinquished my captaincy in all formats in July 2017, pursuant to captaining Sri Lanka continuously for a period of 5 years in all formats. During this tenure, under my captaincy series wins were recorded against England, we whitewashed Australia 3-0 and winning the Asia Cup in 2014 were some memorable occasions. However, in the teams best interest, having felt
I wish to put it on record though Sri Lanka had suffered these heavy defeats in the Asia Cup, which is shocking to say the least, especially in the backdrop where we had a reasonable series against South Africa, I had no intention to quitting and running away from the issues at hand especially owing to the world cup being only a dozen games away. Furthermore, as an obligation of a player, I will keep working hard in all aspects of the game and will be available to represent Sri Lanka at any given with my fullest.
I also believe that if the selectors and coach are of the view that I am unfit to play ODI and T20 cricket and thus not entitled for my place in the team, I would also consider retiring from the ODI and T20 formats as I never want to be a burden to the team. I have played the game true to my conscience and have given my best at all times and have felt that I have fit enough to play the formats and also have performed adequately over a period of time to hold my place in the team. You will also note that I was also the overall highest run scorer in the South Africa series from both teams. In the given circumstances I thus resign as the captain of the Sri Lanka ODI and T20 side with immediate effect in considering the request of the selection committee and the head coach to resign” his statement reads.
Sri Lanka were knocked out from the Asia Cup after heavy defeats against Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
