Angelo Mathews available for SL selection again after six-month hiatus

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) have confirmed that veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews, who last represented the national side in May against Bangladesh, has made himself available for selection again after taking six months off from the game owing to personal reasons. 

Mathews did not feature in the tour of England and the white-ball series against India, owing to which rumors of the 34-year-old’s retirement started doing the rounds. The all-rounder did not make himself available for T20 World Cup selection too, and many believed that his international career was all but over.

However, SLC have confirmed in an official statement that Mathews ‘will join the squads training at the High-Performance Center, focusing on future international tours.’

“Sri Lanka’s Former Captain Angelo Mathews informed Sri Lanka Cricket that he is available for selections for the upcoming tours.

“Accordingly, with immediate effect, Mathews will join the squads training at the High-Performance Center, focusing on future international tours.

“He was relieved from National Duties during the month of July 2021, following a request made by the player, owing to personal reasons,” read the SLC statement. 

The 34-year-old, who made his international debut in 2008, has represented Sri Lanka in 386 matches.