Angelo Mathews dropped as Sri Lanka name squad for CWC Qualifier

COLOMBO: Veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews has been left out of Sri Lanka’s squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe in June.

Angelo Mathews returned to the 50-over format after a two-year hiatus ahead of Sri Lanka’s away ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year.

The return had glimmered a ray of hope for the 36-year-old of a World Cup swansong.

However, the second ODI against Afghanistan last week saw him removed from the Playing XI due to a spate of poor performances; after his comeback, he had scores of 18, 0, and 12.

Sadeera Samarawickrama, who filled in for Angelo Mathews in the aforementioned match, hit a brisk 44, which allowed him to be retained in the lineup for the third ODI.

His comeback, along with Dimuth Karunaratne’s, was considered a shift in the selectors’ strategy to prioritise experience during a World Cup year prior to the Afghanistan series.

However, Angelo Mathews’s series of dismal performances forced the selectors to reconsider their strategy for the World Cup preparations.

The rest of the Sri Lankan squad has little to no changes from their squad for the Afghanistan ODIs with captain Dasun Shanaka leading the likes of Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva and Samarawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga fill the allrounders’ slots, while Hasaranga also leads a spin department that also includes Maheesh Theekshana and legspinner Dushan Hemantha.

The former champions Sri Lanka will start their Cricket World Cup Qualifier campaign on June 19 against UAE in Bulawayo before playing three warm-up matches.

Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt), Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana.

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