Disillusioned Angelo Mathews considers international retirement

He is believed to be unhappy over treatment meted out by SLC during the contracts standoff

Mathews, 34, in understood to be disillusioned at the treatment he and fellow senior players have received during the contracts standoff with the board. He was also unhappy to be dropped from the limited-overs sides earlier this year, though he has since been offered a place in the white-ball squads.

Although SLC said his decision to pull out from the India series was down to “personal reasons”, Mathews is believed to have conveyed to the board that he is unhappy with the environment in which he is expected to play. Under the central contracts offered by the board, Mathews was set to take a pay cut in the range of US$ 50,000 (approx. 99,50,000 LKR). This is despite his batting output over the last three years having largely been good, in both Tests and ODIs. Mathews had also raised his fitness levels in early 2020.

Mathews is now expected to take several weeks to consider his future as an international cricketer.