Former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews is likely to soon return to international cricket action after he made himself available for the national selection again.
According to ESPNcricinfo report, Mathews has mailed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) of his intentions to return to Sri Lanka team with the board will take a final decision on the matter at a meeting on Tuesday (October 12).
However, there has been no official communication from either SLC or Mathews in this regard.
Mathews had made himself unavailable for selection earlier this year, citing poor treatment given to him and other seniors during a months-long contract standoff. He had refused to sign tour contracts offered by SLC’s apex body, as he was set to take a pay cut in the range of USD 50,000 (LKR 99,50,000 approx).
Following the tussle between the SLC and players, Mathews, Dimuth Karunaratne, and Dinesh Chandimal were dropped from Sri Lanka’s white-ball squad.
However, by the time the contracts standoff was resolved, Mathews had already made his discontent clear and ruled himself out of selection. Even there were murmurs of Mathews’ possible retirement.
Well, Mathews might make comeback with a home Test series against West Indies in November followed by the Lanka Premier League in December if the all-rounder returns to Sri Lanka fold.
Noteworthy, Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando, and Akila Dananjaya have been included in Sri Lanka’s final squad for T20 World Cup 2021 starting on October 17 in the UAE and Oman.
Sri Lanka squad:
Dasun Shanaka - Captain, Kusal Janith Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya De Silva - Vice Captain, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando
(With ANI/ ESPNcricinfo Inputs)
