Sri Lanka has made a significant change to their 2023 World Cup squad, bringing in the experienced all-rounder Angelo Mathews to replace the young pacer Matheesha Pathirana, who was sidelined due to a shoulder injury suffered during the match against Pakistan on October 10. Pathirana’s return date remains uncertain as his recovery progresses. Angelo Mathews, a seasoned veteran at 36 years of age, brings a wealth of experience to the team. He has played 221 ODIs for Sri Lanka, scoring 5865 runs at an impressive average of 41.01 and taking 120 wickets with his medium pace. While the Sri Lankan team had the option to select Dushmantha Chameera as a replacement for Pathirana, they ultimately chose Angelo Mathews, a star all-rounder, to bolster the squad. Both Mathews and Chameera were part of the team as traveling reserves, providing valuable depth and options for Sri Lanka.
Angelo Mathews, the 36-year-old veteran, has a notable history in the ODI World Cup, having represented Sri Lanka in the 2011, 2015, and 2019 editions. Despite not being initially included in the squad for the 2023 World Cup, he now returns as a replacement player. Although he has only played seven ODIs in the past four years, Mathews boasts extensive experience from participating in a total of 221 ODI matches for the Sri Lankan national side.
Sri Lanka faced an additional setback when their regular captain, Dasun Shanaka, was sidelined due to an injury during the tournament. In his absence, Kusal Mendis has been entrusted with the captaincy responsibilities. Mathews, with his vast knowledge of the game and prior experience as a captain, now serves as a valuable resource to assist and advise Mendis in leading the team effectively.
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