New Delhi: The timing of injury-ravaged pacer Lasith Malinga's stepping down as Sri Lanka’s captain for the upcoming ICC World Twenty20 in India, comes at a bad time just ahead of the mega event. And now Angelo Mathews, who took over from Malinga said that he was not mentally prepared to lead the side.
This says the crisis Sri Lanka are headed going into the coveted competition after Malinga resigned on Monday citing knee injuries.
Angelo said that although he isn't prepared, he has the experience for quite a few years as skipper. He cited that the tournament will be a huge challenge.
"I was not mentally prepared to take up captaincy in the tournament. But I have the experience of captaining for quite a few years now so it is a challenge. Every tournament is a challenge. Every game is a challenge. Whether you are the captain or not you have a certain role to play in the team," Mathews said.
A fresh skipper just ahead of the tournament brings up a new situation and Mathews said that the selectors and Lasith were planning for this situation but now it's a new scenario.
"The selectors and Lasith have been planning for this tournament for quite a long time so they worked together. And now it is a whole different situation, so I have to do the best and get the best out of the team which I have," he said.
Inexperienced Sri Lanka are having a difficult time in T20Is and that was highlighted during the recently concluded Asia Cup and also the three-match series against India prior to that.
Therefore it will be a challenge for Mathews to stable the ship for the defending champions.
The 27-day tournament got underway in Nagpur on March 8 and will be played at eight venues across India with Eden Gardens in Kolkata scheduled to host the final on April 3.
India, Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia are clubbed in Group 2 while South Africa, England, the West Indies and Sri Lanka are in Group 1.
(With inputs from IANS)
