I Have Been Made the Scapegoat, Says Angelo Mathews

Former Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews believes he has been made the scapegoat after team’s poor show in the recent past. Angelo Mathews was once again sacked from the captaincy duties after Sri Lanka’s pathetic show in the ongoing Asia Cup 2018. Sri Lanka had lost the first match against Bangladesh by a margin of 136 runs. Furthermore, they lost the second against Afghanistan by 91 runs.

Thus, the Island nation was knocked out of the Asia Cup. Subsequently, Sri Lankan selectors have decided to hand over the captaincy duties to Dinesh Chandimal who is also the Test captain. In fact, this is the second time in the year when Angelo Mathews has handed over the captaincy baton to Chandimal.

Mathews has to give up on the captaincy for the second time in the year.

“The national selectors… have requested Mathews to relinquish his duties as captain with immediate effect,” the board said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s performance has been poor in the recent past. They had also lost the ODI series against South Africa by 3-2 in their own home conditions. In fact, they haven’t won any bilateral series in this year.

“I have been made the scapegoat in this entire saga of Sri Lanka’s dismal performance against Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the Asia Cup,” Mathews said in a letter to Sri Lanka Cricket.

Sri Lanka is struggling.

Therefore, Dinesh Chandimal will take over the bridle in all the three forms of the game. Chandimal first assignment as ODI captain will be against England in a home series. Sri Lanka will lock horns with Eoin Morgan led-side in the five-match ODI series. The first One-Dayer will take place on 10 October.

Consequently, Sri Lanka will seek some stability in their performance. They will look to add some confidence to their bag before the next year World Cup.