COLOMBO: Batsman Dinesh Chandimal has been installed as Sri Lanka captain across all three formats after Angelo Mathews lost his role as skipper of the country’s limited-overs teams following their first-round exit from the Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

Mathews was renamed as Sri Lanka’s limited-overs skipper in January, six months after the all-rounder relinquished the captaincy for both red and white-ball formats following a home series defeat to Zimbabwe.

Mathews, however, was unable to revive the team’s fortunes in his latest stint, which came to an unceremonious end after Sri Lanka crashed out of the ongoing six-nation Asia Cup following first round defeats by Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

“The national selectors on Sunday decided to appoint Dinesh Chandimal as the ODI captain to lead the team in the upcoming England series,” Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement. “Accordingly, they have requested Angelo Mathews to relinquish his duties as the national ODI and T20I captain, with immediate effect.”

The decision has upset Mathews, who felt he had been made a ‘scapegoat’ and threatened to retire from limited-overs cricket in a letter to SLC chief executive Ashley de Silva.

“I’m willing to take part of the blame but, at the same time, feel betrayed and let down if the blame is solely put on me. I have been made the scapegoat in this entire saga of Sri Lanka’s dismal performance against Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the Asia Cup,” the 31-year-old all-rounder wrote.

“If the selectors and coach are of the view that I am unfit to play ODI and T20 cricket and thus not entitled for my place in the team, I would also consider retiring from the ODI and T20 formats as I never want to be a burden to the team.”

Sri Lanka were thumped by 137 runs against Bangladesh in their opening match of the tournament, and have now lost 30 of their 40 matches since January 2017.

Sri Lanka have been grappling with a leadership crisis over the last 18 months, during which Upul Tharanga, Lasith Malinga, Chamara Kapugedera and Thisara Perera have also been tried as ODI captains.

Sri Lanka will face England in five One-day internationals, one Twenty20 International and three Tests from Oct 10.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2018