- Title: Chandimal, Tharanga to lead Sri Lanka after Mathews departs
- Date: 12th July 2017
- Summary: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA (JULY 12, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** CRICKET OFFICIALS AND SENIOR PLAYERS ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE FORMER CAPTAIN ANGELO MATHEWS AND CRICKET BOARD CHIEF THILANGA SUMATHIPALA AT HEAD TABLE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER CAPTAIN ANGELO MATHEWS SAYING: "However as the captain I cannot turn a blind eye to the failures of our team during the last several months. In this regard I am very much concerned that we were unfortunate to lose to Zimbabwe, with all due respect, during the recently concluded ODI series. This loss to me personally, as stated previously, is the lowest point in my cricketing career." VARIOUS OF JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER CAPTAIN ANGELO MATHEWS SAYING: "Furthermore I was also very mindful that my resignation at this juncture would ensure that sufficient time been given to my successor, to the national team, to confidently to the next ICC World Cup in England in 2019" JOURNALISTS AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW CRICKET CAPTAIN DINESH CHANDIMAL SAYING: "We had lots of ups and downs the last two years but we have really good players, good youngsters and the seniors." END OF PRESS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 26th July 2017 10:29
- Keywords: Sri Lanka Cricket Angelo Mathews
- Location: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
- City: COLOMBO, SRI LANKA
- Country: Sri Lanka
- Topics: Cricket,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016PEWMKF
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Dinesh Chandimal was named skipper of Sri Lanka's test team on Wednesday (July 12), while fellow batsman Upul Tharanga has been tasked with leading the limited-overs squads after Angelo Mathews relinquished the captaincy across all formats a day earlier.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) president Thilanga Sumathipala said the board had accepted Mathews' resignation following a shock one-day series defeat by Zimbabwe, which the all-rounder described as one of the lowest points of his career.
"As the captain I cannot turn a blind eye to the failures of our team during the last several months," Mathews told a news conference where the new captains were named, referring to the team's struggles since the 2015 World Cup.
Sri Lanka's new captains have little time to adjust to their roles as the side hosts Zimbabwe in a one-off test starting on Friday, before welcoming India for a full series from July 26, featuring three tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 match.
The 1996 world champions, currently ranked seventh in tests and eighth in one-dayers, are also vying with West Indies for the last available automatic place in the 2019 World Cup.
Chandimal said he looked forward to receiving guidance from Mathews as he begins his tenure against Zimbabwe in Colombo before taking on the top-ranked team in test cricket.
Mathews marks his return to the test side against Zimbabwe after missing the previous home series against Bangladesh through injury. Friday's match will be the first he plays in without being in charge since 2013. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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