Mathews hopes Sri Lanka can play with freedom

Sport360 staff 07:44 10/03/2016
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Leader: Mathews.

    Newly-appointed Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said the struggling islanders would benefit at the World Twenty20 from being free of the burden of expectation that usually surrounds the side.

    The defending champions have slumped to eighth in the T20 rankings and come into the tournament following a disastrous showing at the Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

    Few commentators have given them much hope of successfully defending their title and that’s something Mathews welcomes.

    “From the outside no one is really giving us a chance and that’s a good thing,” he said in Mumbai.

    “We can play with a lot of freedom and that’s what I expect from the team. I’m sure if we play with a lot of freedom then we’ll beat most teams,” the skipper added.

    Mathews replaced the injured Lasith Malinga as captain earlier this week, just hours before the Sri Lankans were due to leave for India.

    Sri Lanka are due to begin their title defence on March 17, when they play a qualifier from the preliminary round. Sri Lanka’s sports minister sacked the panel of selectors on Tuesday and appointed a new team who immediately made two changes to the squad, replacing Jeffrey Vandersay and Niroshan Dickwella with Lahiru Thirimanne and Suranga Lakmal.

    “The morale in the team is quite good. We can’t say we are all depressed or moaning about the Asia Cup. It’s done and dusted,” said Mathews. “Now it’s a matter of going out there and expressing ourselves.”

    Recommended