Mathews recalled to T20I squad at the age of 36

Angelo Mathews

Akila Dananjaya

National cricket selectors have recalled former captain Angelo Mathews at the age of 36 to the Sri Lanka T20I squad to face Zimbabwe in a series of three matches beginning at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium from 14 January.

Mathews last played for his country in the shortest format in 2021 against West Indies at Coolidge, but has been an integral part of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) teams leading B-Love Kandy to win the final against Dambulla Aura last year in the absence of injured skipper Wanindu Hasaranga. He also figured in the recently concluded Cricket World Cup in India. Mathews has played in 78 T20Is scoring 1148 runs at a strike rate of 117.74 and captured 38 wickets at an economy rate of 6.99.

Also recalled to the national T20 squad after a long lapse are unorthodox spinner Akila Dananjaya, fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera and batsman Sadeera Samarawickrama.

After he was reported for an illegal bowling action, Dananjaya (30) has undergone changes to his bowling action and been a prolific wicket-taker in domestic cricket. He last played for Sri Lanka in 2021. In 31 T20Is he has taken 28 wickets at an economy rate of 8.21.

Chameera (31) has been in and out of white ball sides due to a number of recurring injuries. His last T20I appearance was at Geelong against UAE in October 2022. He was recalled to the ODI squad for the ongoing series against Zimbabwe, after making a comeback in the World Cup in India. He has taken 52 T20I wickets in as many matches at a strike rate of 8.08.

Samarawickrama (28) made a return to white ball cricket after a lapse of four years when he was picked for the ODI series against Afghanistan in June last year and has since retained his place. He played the last of his 9 T20I for Sri Lanka in July 2021 against India.

Hasaranga will make his debut as Sri Lanka’s new T20I captain at the start of the series with Charith Asalanka as his deputy. The second and third T20I are scheduled to be played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on 16 and 18 January.    

SRI LANKA SQUAD FOR T20I SERIES v ZIMBABWE 

Wanindu Hasaranga (Captain), Charith Asalanka (Vice Captain), Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka (subject to fitness), Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Akila Dananjaya.