Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews steps down as captain

Following the humiliating series loss at the hands of the visitors Zimbabwe, Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews has stepped down as the captain of the national team in all the three formats with immediate effect.

After the fifth ODI against the visitors at Suriyawewa, which the visitors won by three wickets following the miraculous return of the visiting side following the huge loss against the host in the fourth ODI of the series. Skipper Mathews has indicated that he will discuss his future with the selectors, following the loss. The following day, the skipper has decided to step down from the post of captaincy for the national team.

Dinesh Chandimal front-runner for the top job

It seems likely that the out-of-favour wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal might get the top job following the stepping down of Mathews as the skipper. Mathews had led the Sri Lankan side for the first time in the U-19 tournament, before climbing the ladder to the senior stage.

He then skippered the Sri Lankan ‘A’ side, before becoming the country’s youngest Test captain at the age of 25, when he succeeded the experienced Mahela Jayawardene in 2003. He was Sri Lanka’s first non-Buddhist captain in 25 years after Duleep Mendis. Prior to his appointment as skipper in the Test format, the right-handed batsman was already skippering the side in the limited overs format before making the switch in the longest format.

The all-rounder missed a massive chunk of cricket while being injured during the tour of South Africa. He missed the 5-match series, where the visitors drubbed Sri Lanka 5-0. Mathews also missed the Test series against Bangladesh before making a swift return to the national team in the Champions Trophy.

While Mathews skippered the Sri Lankan side in 34 Tests, of which the team won 13 and lost 15. In ODIs, he won 47 and lost 46 while in T20Is he won four and lost seven. One of the highs’ of his career would be Sri Lanka’s drubbing of Australia 3-0.