Sri Lanka Cricketers Endure A Horror Time As Flight From London Made Emergency Landing In India Due To Fuel Loss

Sri Lankan cricket has endured a plethora of turmoil both on and off the field in recent months and its national team endured yet another horror event while returning home post the culmination of what was a pretty shambolic tour of England.

Sri Lanka were hammered 0-3 in the T20I rubber and it would have been the same scenario in the ODI rubber but for rain in the final match that saved them from a 0-3 mauling.

However, further horror awaited the Sri Lankan players on their return back home as their flight had to be diverted to India due to loss of fuel.

“We had to divert to India because we lost fuel. When I landed in India, I switched my phone on and I had a couple of messages from Wayne Bentley (England’s operations manager) who updated on the situation and that was a really nerve-wracking time for all of us,” Mickey Arthur told talkSPORT.

Meanwhile, 29 out of 30 Sri Lankan players have signed the central contract ahead of the series against India.

That said, reports have emerged that veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews is contemplating retirement and he has communicated the same to SLC.

Mathews has pulled out of the Indian series citing personal reasons. The former skipper was overlooked for the last two white-ball assignments against Bangladesh and England.

”Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce that 29 players, out of the 30 members nominated by the Cricket Selectors to be considered for the White-Ball Series against India, have signed the Tour Contract,” said the SLC in a statement.

“Angelo Mathews, who was included in the respective 30-member squad, requested Sri Lanka Cricket to relieve him from National Duties, owing to personal reasons, until further notice,” the statement read.

The India-Sri Lanka limited-overs series will kickstart with the three-match ODI rubber in Colombo from July 13.

Also Read- Amid Retirement Talks Angelo Mathews Pulls Out Of The India White-Ball Series