Veteran Sri Lanka all-rounder Angelo Mathews is disenchanted on the variety of Take a look at matches his aspect will play within the 2025 calendar 12 months.
Having final featured in Sri Lanka’s tour to South Africa final December, Mathews on Monday mentioned he was shocked that the staff can be taking part in solely 4 Assessments this 12 months, two of which can be accomplished earlier than mid-February in opposition to Australia at house.
In addition to the Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup T20s, Sri Lanka are slated to play 13 ODIs and 12 T20Is by November 2025 earlier than resuming motion in January 2026. The scheduled Future Excursions Program will imply that Sri Lanka’s illustration in whites this 12 months can be wrapped up by June once they host Bangladesh in two Assessments within the new 2025-27 ICC World Take a look at Championship cycle.
Sri Lanka play the least Assessments within the subsequent cycle, with solely eight extra matches scheduled in 2026 and 2027.
Tagging the Worldwide Cricket Council in his submit on X, Mathews wrote: “Completely surprising to listen to that Sri Lanka is barely taking part in 4 take a look at matches this complete 12 months together with the Aus Assessments this month.”
Completely surprising to listen to that srilanka is barely taking part in 4 take a look at matches this complete 12 months together with the aus assessments this month @ICC .
— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews) January 6, 2025
Having final represented Sri Lanka in ODIs on the World Cup in 2023 and T20Is on the T20 World Cup final 12 months, the 37-year-old Mathews is proscribed to Take a look at appearances and lately turned solely the third Lankan batter to cross 8000 Take a look at runs.
Within the ongoing 2023-25 version of the WTC, Sri Lanka have been marked 13 Assessments. From 11 accomplished video games, Sri Lanka received 5 matches and stay fifth within the standings. Solely Bangladesh (12) and South Africa (12) have performed fewer Assessments, with England (22), Australia (19) and India (19) topping the charts. Mathews’ feedback come on a day when experiences have instructed that cricket’s Large 3 and the ICC are mulling a two-tier Take a look at system after the conclusion of the following World Take a look at Championship cycle.
Based on experiences from The Age, ICC chairman Jay Shah is anticipated to satisfy the chiefs of Cricket Australia, and England Cricket Board (ECB) to debate the initiative the place a bigger share of matches are performed between India, Australia and England. Whereas the concept has been floating round since 2016, the two-tier system has acquired extreme resistance up to now from smaller worldwide boards and the BCCI.
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