Ahead of the upcoming World Cup in India, Sri Lanka’s National Selection Committee has made significant changes to the team by including experienced all-rounders Angelo Mathews and Dushmantha Chamira.
Initially, the plan was to introduce Pramod Madhushan into the squad, but with Dushmantha Chamira’s full recovery from injury, the selectors have opted for the seasoned player to bolster the team’s bowling capabilities.
Matisha Pathirana, a crucial member of the team, has been sidelined for a minimum of 10 days due to an injury to his bowling arm.
In response to this setback, the team management has been granted the flexibility to bring in Chamira as an additional player to the 15-man squad should any further injuries occur during the tournament.
The inclusion of 36-year-old Angelo Mathews comes as a surprise, as he was not originally part of the selection committee’s plans.
Mathews had taken a hiatus from white-ball cricket, as selectors had adopted a youth-oriented policy in 2021. However, his experience has now earned him a spot on the team after Sri Lanka’s recent loss to Australia, where they put up a formidable 157 for the opening wicket but were ultimately all out for 209.
It’s important to note that a player must be injured for Chamira to be added to the 15-man squad. Meanwhile, Chamira’s return to the national team comes after his last appearance in June, where he played against Afghanistan in the World Cup qualifiers.
