Angelo Mathews only to bat against India

The Sri Lanka captain has not recovered sufficiently from a hamstring injury.

Angelo Mathews did not play Sri Lanka’s first match in the tournament against South Africa.

Sri Lanka’s captain Angelo Mathews will not be able to bowl against India during its ICC Champions Trophy match on Thursday.

To make matters worse for the side, senior batsman Chamara Kapugedara also sustained a knee injury and hobbled out of the ground during training in considerable pain.

Cricket Manager Asanka Gurusinha informed that Mathews will not be bowling and it will certainly affect the balance of the side.

Mathews is coming back from hamstring injury. “Angelo is playing against India but he will only be batting. He is still not fit enough to bowl. As far as Kapu (Kapugedara) is concerned, it looked bad and we are still not sure whether we can avail his services,” Gurusinha told PTI from the sidelines of the Sri Lankan training on the eve of India match.

It was learnt that Sri Lanka had already got two replacements, who were travelling with the team. “We brought 17 players. We have a left-hander Dhanushka Gunathilake and off-spinner Dilruwan Perera,” he said.