Angelo Mathews is Key to Sri Lanka's World Cup Hopes, Says Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara, the former veteran Sri Lankan wicket-keeper batsman believes that Angelo Mathews is going to hold the key for Sri Lanka’s World Cup hopes, next year. Sangakkara said that the onus will be on Mathew’s shoulders to deliver the goods in the coveted event.

The former Sri Lankan skipper Sangakkara said that Mathews adds balance to the Lankan as an all-rounder. However, Mathews hasn’t bowled much in the recent past. In fact, a spate of injuries has kept the bowler on the sidelines.

Mathews has been troubled with injuries:

Meanwhile, Mathews is reinstated as the Sri Lankan skipper. Thus, he would hold the reins of captaincy for the five-match One-day International series against South Africa.

Veteran Sangakkara is hopeful that Sri Lanka will do well in the ODI carnival which will be held next year.

“It’ll also be the balance of the side, how Angelo Mathews goes about, whether he’s fit enough to bowl. That’s the most crucial aspect of Angelo in the side; that balance he gives us been the all-rounder. I have a lot of confidence in the fact that Sri Lanka is another team who does well in big tournaments,” Sangakkara said as quoted by ICC website.

The former Sri Lankan gloveman Sangakkara said the bowling department could be the team’s, Achilles Heel.

Moreover, the legendary batsman said that if Sri Lankan bowling can restrict the opposition to a manageable total, then they can do well.

Sri Lankan bowling is the main concern:

“I think they’ll go well [at the World Cup]. They have some excellent batsmen. I think bowling is where the concern is, whether we can restrict sides to manageable or chaseable totals, or restrict sides below totals that our batsmen can get.”

Kumar Sangakkara was a quality player for the Island nation. In fact, he kept delivering the big performances in the County season even after calling it a day from the International arena. And the fitness of Angelo Mathews would be vital for the Islanders before the World Cup.

However, Sangakkara has no regrets over his retirement.

“You can’t reverse the clock! Age catches up with everyone and I’m pretty happy and comfortable watching it from the stands. There are times when I miss it and times when I see the hard yards done by the players that I don’t.”

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka hasn’t been in the best of forms in the white-ball format. They are currently at the eighth position in the ICC ODI rankings. Therefore, they would like to climb up the tree in the coming time.

Sri Lanka will play the 50-over series against South Africa. The first One-Dayer will be played on Sunday (29 July) at Dambulla.