Angelo Mathews hits out at former selectors for 'agenda' in team selection

Angelo Mathews played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s win against Zimbabwe in the first T20I on Sunday. He top-scored with 46 runs from 38 balls as the hosts clinched a last-ball win in a thriller at the R Premadasa Stadium.

It was Mathews’ first T20I outing since March 2021 and he blamed former selectors for working to their own “agenda.” The veteran said the newly-appointed selection panel, led by Upul Tharanga, had him in their T20 World Cup plans.

Mathews was crucial with the ball also. He bowled two overs and conceded just 13 runs. After an all-round show, Angelo believes he should not have been on the sidelines for this long.

“In the last two Lanka Premier League (LPL) seasons I batted and bowled well, but unfortunately I wasn’t selected for the T20 World Cups, and I wasn’t given reasons for that,” he said after the game, having picked up the Player-of-the-Match trophy. “If you take decisions that are driven by agendas, these kinds of things can happen - we haven’t even qualified for the Champions Trophy.

“But one thing I believe is that if you train and play wholeheartedly, you can create an environment for yourself where you can perform. I kept my efforts up over the last couple of years. I think I can play for a little while longer.”

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Mathews’ bowling had been the point of concern over the years. He had been an important member between 2007 and 2014, where he frequently bowled in the powerplay in T20s. But a rise in injuries either prevented him from bowling, or allowed him to play only as a specialist batter. More recently, he has become a regular contributor of quiet overs again.

“The communication with me and the new selectors is quite clear. They asked me what my plans were for the future and [told me] their plans as well. We had a very good discussion. They said that I’m in their plans for the T20 World Cup, and if I could bowl a few overs. I said: ‘Absolutely - if I can help the team in any way’.

“I’ve been bowling in the LPL as well, and you saw me bowling in the [domestic] one-dayers as well recently. If I can bowl a few overs that helps the balance of the team and the captain can decide whether he wants to play an extra batter or a bowler.”

During the clash against Zimbabwe, Mathews made the most of his experience to get Lanka out of a dire position. Sri Lanka needed 61 in the last six overs with four wickets in hand. The pairing of Mattews and Dasun Shanaka added 55 runs off 34 balls when Mathews departed. Dushmantha Chameera would eventually score the winning runs.

“When we batted together I talked to Dasun about how if one of us gets out it will be really difficult,” Mathews said. “We thought it would be better if we batted until the 16th or 17th over, and keep the required rate at an achievable level - around 10 runs an over. In the end we had to go after their best bowlers as well. We took some calculated risks.

“Dasun played a good innings, and the person who played the most important innings was Dushmantha Chameera who got six off the last two balls, or else everything else we did would have been meaningless.”