Angelo Mathews slams ICC over Sri Lanka’s shocking 2025 Test schedule
Published - 07 Jan 2025, 01:11 PM | Updated - 07 Jan 2025, 11:37 PM
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Veteran Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews has expressed his shock and disappointment over the Islanders’ Test schedule for 2025, which he describes as "absolutely shocking." In a heartfelt post on social media, Mathews slammed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for scheduling only four Test matches for Sri Lanka in the entire year 2025.
Having last played in Sri Lanka's Test tour of South Africa in December 2024, Angelo Mathews was shocked to learn that only two Tests will be played before mid-February against Australia on home soil.
Angelo Mathews stunned by Sri Lanka’s Test calendar
After that, the Sri Lankan cricket team will be primarily focused on limited-overs cricket, with 13 ODIs and 12 T20Is lined up before November 2025. The Sri Lankan cricket team’s participation in the longest format of the game will be limited to just four matches, wrapping up with two more Tests against Bangladesh at home by June 2025.
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This is just the beginning of a lean period for Sri Lankan Test cricket, with just eight more Test matches scheduled for 2026 and 2027 in the ICC World Test Championship cycle 2025-27. Notably, Sri Lanka is set to host Australia in a two-match Test series in January-February. The first Test will be played from January 29 in Galle.
Angelo Mathews slams ICC for limited Test opportunities for Sri Lanka in 2025
Tagging the ICC in his post on his social media handle X, Angelo Mathews shared his views on the Sri Lankan team’s Test schedule for this year: “Absolutely shocking to hear that Sri Lanka is only playing 4 test matches this entire year, including the Aus Tests this month.”
Absolutely shocking to hear that srilanka is only playing 4 test matches this entire year including the aus tests this month @ICC .
— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews) January 6, 2025
The veteran cricketer Angelo Mathews’ outburst has sparked widespread concern about the future of Test cricket in Sri Lanka, as the focus seems to be shifted entirely to limited-overs cricket.
Notably, the 37-year-old Mathews last played for Sri Lanka in ODIs during the 2023 World Cup and in T20Is at the T20 World Cup last year. Now, the senior all-rounder mostly plays Test cricket and recently became only the third Sri Lankan batter to score over 8000 runs in the traditional format of the game.
Big Three India, England, and Australia push for major changes in WTC
In the current 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, Sri Lanka has been scheduled for 13 Tests. Out of the 11 games they’ve played so far, they have won five and are ranked fifth in the standings. Only Bangladesh (12 Tests) and South Africa (12 Tests) have played fewer Tests, while England (22 Tests), Australia (19 Tests), and India (19 Tests) are leading the chart.
Mathews' comments come on the same day reports suggested that India, England, and Australia, along with the ICC, are considering a two-tier Test system after the end of the next WTC cycle. Notably, India and England are scheduled to play a total of 10 Test matches each this year, while Australia has seven Tests in their schedule this year.
