Sunday marked Angelo Mathews’s first Twenty20 International (T20I) appearance in nearly three years. Following that success, he criticized Sri Lanka’s previous selection panel, led by Pramoda Wickramasinghe, for making “agendas”-driven decisions that kept him out of the white-ball setup since March 2021.
“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. If you take decisions that are driven by agendas, these kinds of things can happen – we haven’t even qualified for the Champions Trophy,” Mathews said.
In the previous year, during the midpoint of the World Cup in India, Mathews entered the squad as an emergency ODI substitution for the ailing Matheesha Pathirana. Mathews has endured a protracted string of ailments throughout his career, with his bowling serving as collateral damage as he attempted to control his burden. However, he disclosed now, as well as throughout the ODI World Cup, that he devoted the majority of his free time to bowling and maintaining his fitness.
“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 said.
Given the increased transparency of the selection committee led by Upul Tharanga, Mathews may be granted the opportunity to extend his playing time and potentially compete in the T20 World Cup this year, provided he can make a valuable contribution with the ball.
“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,” he added.
Mathews delivered two overs in the PowerPlay on Sunday in Colombo, allowing 13 runs to be conceded, before leading his team in scoring with 46 off 38 deliveries in a last-ball thriller. Zimbabwe held the upper hand even in the fourteenth over of Sri Lanka’s pursuit, when the hosts were reduced to 83 for 6. However, Mathews and Dasun Shanaka joined forces at this juncture for a game-saving partnership totaling 55 runs off of 34 deliveries.
“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,” Mathews said.
