Sri Lanka All-Rounder Angelo Mathews Pulls Out Of West Indies Tour; To Return Home

Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who captained the team in the recent T20I series, has pulled out of the ongoing tour of West Indies and is scheduled to return home. He will be missing the remaining two one-day internationals and two Test matches, the Sri Lankan cricket board said Thursday.

The reason for the same has not been confirmed yet, though the Sri Lankan team has already played three T20 matches and one ODI. Official sources have said that Mathews cannot go to Sri Lanka and come back for the remaining matches due to COVID-19 protocols.

Angelo Mathews To Return Home Due To Family Matters

Sri Lanka Cricket said Mathews, 33, was leaving the Caribbean Thursday. Sri Lanka lost the three-match T20I series 2-1 under the captaincy of Mathews, who was appointed in place of Dasun Shanaka, who missed the tour due to travel problems.

The former Sri Lanka captain had a forgettable T20I series with scores of 5, 13, and 11 with the bat. Mathews played in the first ODI between Sri Lanka and West Indies, which was hosted by Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua. He made 5 runs and was run out. Sri Lanka lost the match by 8 wickets as Shai Hopes’ 110 thumped Sri Lanka’s total of 232 with ease.

“The purpose of his return is to attend to a family matter,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a statement without giving details.

Sources have claimed that due to strict COVID-19 protocols put in place for the safety of the players and officials of both West Indies and Sri Lankan teams, Mathews will not be able to return to the Caribbean, once he leaves for Sri Lanka.

The rest of the ODI matches will be at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium on Friday and Sunday. The first Test starts on March 21 and the second and final game is scheduled for March 29.

The first ODI saw a controversial moment when Sri Lanka opener Danushka Gunathilaka was deemed out obstructing the field after West Indies captain Kieron Pollard appealed and the third umpire gave his decision. Gunathilaka scored a half-century before getting out in the bizarre fashion.

Also Read: Colin de Grandhomme To Undergo Surgery On His Right Ankle