Angelo Mathews sustains hamstring injury, flies back home

Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews has been forced to return home with a hamstring injury which he suffered during Sri Lanka’s 12-run defeat to Zimbabwe on Wednesday. The news was confirmed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) sources. In his absence, Dinesh Chandimal has been named skipper to lead the side. However, the injury to the leader comes as a severe blow for the team from the island nation as they face Bangladesh on Friday.

The 30-year-old suffered a similar issue in December when he had to return to the dressing room halfway through his third over – 12th in the Indian innings – as he suffered a grade one hamstring tear during the second T20 International. He was ruled out for two weeks but return to lead the national side for the ongoing tri-series.

The veteran has a long history of hamstring, calf and ankle injuries and was forced to return home early from the tour of South Africa in January last year. He was out for five months and when he made his return during the Champions Trophy in England, he played only as a specialist batsman.

A press release issued by SLC stated, “Sri Lankan White-Ball captain Angelo Mathews is currently being treated for a right hamstring tightness. The hamstring tightness has occurred, while Mathews was batting in yesterday’s Sri Lanka – Zimbabwe Match of the ongoing Tri-Series in Bangladesh.”

Skipper encourages Sri Lanka to have a fresh start

Prior to the start of the Tri-nation series in Bangladesh, Mathews vowed for his side to put their woeful time in 2017 behind them, and begin their rebuilding process looking ahead to the 2019 World Cup in England.

It will certainly be a new beginning for Sri Lanka. They’ve commenced another reign under coach Chandika Hathurusingha and re-appointed skipper Mathews, who had relinquished his post six months ago.

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