In what may come as a huge setback for Sri Lanka, their captain Angelo Mathews is doubtful for the Champions Trophy opener against South Africa on June 3 because of a calf injury. The news was confirmed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday (May 31). As per the official release, the allrounder complained of pain on his calf and the team management is not willing to take any risk.
“Mathews had complained of stiffness and pain, prompting the team management to conduct radiographic investigations, which revealed a strain on the muscle,” SLC said in a release. “He will engage in supervised recovery over the next few days but will most likely sit out the first group stage match.”
BREAKING: @OfficialSLC skipper Angelo Mathews likely to miss the South Africa match due to calf injury. #SriLanka #LKA #CT17
— Sri Lanka Cricket ?? (@OfficialSLC) May 31, 2017
In case, Mathews misses out, it will be huge blow for the team that won the third edition of the Champions Trophy in 2002. The inexperienced Sri Lankan team relies heavily on Mathews both in batting and bowling and missing him for a crunch clash against the world number one ODI side South Africa will be nothing short of a disaster for them.
The Sri Lanka skipper has not played any international game since sustaining a hamstring injury in the second T20I against South Africa in January and was forced to miss the following Twenty20 International series in Australia. He also missed the Test and ODI series at home against Bangladesh and is set to miss the subsequent two-match T20I series too.
Mathews returned to action during the Indian Premier League and looked in good touch during the first warm-up game against Australia when he scored 95 off 106 deliveries before missing the second practice match against New Zealand.
Senior batsman Upul Tharanga, who led in Mathews’s absence in limited-overs cricket, is likely to don the captain’s hat once again against South Africa on Saturday (June 3).