Angelo Mathews will be appointed as Sri Lanka new shorter formats captain for the Bangladesh tri-series as the SLC has decided to dumped Thisara Perera just after one series that to against India, Cricket Age learns. The SLC is set to announce his name in a media brief today.
Thisara was the captain of the team for the three match series against India recently. Sri Lanka lost the series 2-1, but the captaincy of Perera was impressive. They surprised team India in the first ODI at Dharamsala by comprehensively beaten them.
However, as Chandika Hathurusingha has taken over as New Head coach of the team, the change was almost inevitable. Though, According to sources, Hathurusingha was on the favour of Chandimal, even though his recent ODI form is nothing more than a disaster.
That’s why, the name of Mathews has been resurfaced on again, after the mutual understanding between Hathurusingha and selectors.
Mathews at present is recovering from a hamstring injury, that he sustained during the second T20I against India. He has just cleared his fitness test Two days ago and has himself shown the desire to lead the country once again.
He resigned as captain across all formats following Sri Lanka’s 2-3 series loss to Zimbabwe in July last year. After that, Lasith Malinga, Chamara Kapugedera, Upul Tharanga, Thisara Perera have captained Sri Lanka on various tours and series.
Mathews has always been a front runner to lead Sri Lanka. However, of late, he has become a injury prone player. Over the last year’s, various leg injuries have hindered Mathews progress greatly to become the best allrounder of World Cricket. Since 31st August 2016, he has missed a total of 37 international matches for Sri Lanka due to various injuries, that includes 6 tests, 20 ODIs and 11 T20Is.
Since the middle of 2015, he has missed a full tour of Zimbabwe, returned early from South Africa tour, missed Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka and missed a full tour of the UAE.
The tri-series in Bangladesh to commence on January 17 and final will be played on 27th January. Sri Lanka’s first match is scheduled on January 17 against Zimbabwe.
