Sri Lankan cricket veteran Angelo Mathews has openly criticized Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for what he perceives as biased selection policies, following his return to T20I cricket after nearly three years. Mathews, aged 36, expressed his frustration over being overlooked for the T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022, despite showing strong form in domestic competitions. Mathews lamented Sri Lanka's failure to qualify for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which is set to be held in Pakistan, attributing this setback to the
"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," Matthews was quoted as saying.
"If you take decisions that are driven by agendas, these kinds of things can happen - we haven't even qualified for the Champions Trophy," he stated.
Sri Lanka Cricket's decisions that he believes are driven by personal agendas rather than merit. He emphasised that his consistent performance in domestic leagues was not taken into account during the selection for the T20 World Cup teams.
"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," Mathews added.
Despite these challenges and a prolonged absence from the T20 format, Mathews maintained a positive attitude and did not let his enthusiasm for the game wane. His commitment and resilience paid off as he played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka's recent victory over Zimbabwe. In this comeback match, Mathews showcased his all-round capabilities, delivering an economical bowling performance with figures of 2 overs for 13 runs. He then contributed significantly with the bat, scoring a crucial 46 runs off 38 deliveries, including five boundaries and a six. This contribution was instrumental in helping Sri Lanka successfully chase down a target of 144 runs.
With the series now leaning in Sri Lanka's favor, Mathews’ performance has set a positive tone for the team. The second T20I, scheduled for Tuesday, January 16, presents an opportunity for Sri Lanka to secure the series win. Mathews' return to the team not only adds experience but also bolsters their middle order, enhancing their chances of a series victory. His comments and subsequent performance have highlighted the importance of merit-based selections in national cricket teams, emphasizing that experience and current form should be key factors in team selection.
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