Mahela-Angelo clash over difference of opinion

A difference of opinion has led to a dispute between the former Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawardena and the current Sri Lanka team Captain Angelo Mathews with the World Cup 2019 just around the corner.

The dispute had arisen over a statement made by Mahela Jayawardena to Sunday Times.

In his statement to the newspaper, Mahela Jayawardena had stated that the current plight of the Sri Lankan team is because Mathews and Chandimal had failed to manage their differences.

Several parties had expressed their views on social media regarding Mahela’s ststement, while some had also criticised his statement.

At the time Mahela Jayawardena stepped down from his captaincy in 2015, he handed over the responsibility to Angelo Mathews.

However, since then Dinesh Chandimal, Tissara Perera, Lasith Malinga and Chamara Kapugedara have all held the captaincy while currently Dimuth Karunaratne is captaining the team.

“The only advice we gave Angelo is not to get manipulated by the politics in cricket. He should remain with the team and function as a strong leader. But, he got influenced by the politics in cricket and allowed others to take decisions. He failed to stand up for the other players in his team,” Mahela had said.

“I gave him my honest opinion and he accepted it. If he had not been influenced our team may not have suffered this fate,” Mahela said further.

“I have no issue with him he is a good person and an excellent player. However, he failed to manage this situation properly. He should have handled the team at the World Cup, but he had to forfeit all that due to his own mistakes.”

Previously, Mahela, Aravinda and Sangakkara had submitted a proposal for the development of Sri Lankan cricket.

“I think Dinesh Chandimal was another victim of cricket politics. In the sense, he was another player like Angelo Mathews who was snared to elements behind the scene and went along with them rather than taking control of the team and being a strong leader,” Mahela had told the Sunday Times.

In response Angelo Mathews had posted a comment on FB.

“Everyone has a right to their own opinion and the same goes for Mahela Jayawardena. I was surprised at some of his views and I reject them. I have given priority to the World Cup. I request Mahela to contribute his knowledge and strength to the team at this point.”

However, although SLC had requested Mahela to assist the Sri Lankan team at the World Cup, he had rejected the request.

The 2019 World Cup is set to kick off on May 30th with the match between South Africa and England.

The six week long 2019 World Cup is hosted by England and Wales.