Angelo Mathews Critiques Sri Lanka’s 2025 Test Match Schedule

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Angelo Mathews has expressed his disappointment over Sri Lanka’s schedule of only four Test matches for 2025, highlighting the contrast with their extensive ODI and T20I commitments. Mathews publicly addressed his concerns, emphasizing the implications of reduced Test play for the team. As the team struggles with a limited schedule and a significant potential decline in Test cricket participation, the situation raises questions about the future of the format within the ICC’s strategic framework.

Angelo Mathews, the veteran all-rounder for Sri Lanka, has expressed his profound disappointment regarding the limited number of Test matches scheduled for his team in the 2025 cricket calendar. After his participation in the South African tour last December, he revealed that Sri Lanka is set to compete in only four Tests this year—two of which will occur against Australia at home before mid-February. Additionally, Sri Lanka will engage in 13 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 12 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) before resuming competitive play in January 2026.

According to the Future Tours Program, Sri Lanka’s involvement in Test cricket will culminate by June 2025, with two matches against Bangladesh marking the conclusion of their Test fixtures for the year in the newly initiated 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle. Alarmingly, Sri Lanka is poised to have the fewest Test matches scheduled, with just eight additional games planned for 2026 and 2027. Mathews took to social media, tagging the International Cricket Council (ICC) to voice his concerns, stating, “Absolutely shocking to hear that Sri Lanka is only playing 4 test matches this entire year including the Aus Tests this month.”

At the age of 37, Mathews has been primarily limited to Test cricket after participating in ODIs at the 2023 World Cup and T20Is in the previous year’s T20 World Cup. Recently, he distinguished himself by becoming the third Sri Lankan batter to surpass the milestone of 8,000 Test runs. In the ongoing 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle, Sri Lanka is slated to play 13 Tests but has performed with uneven results, winning five out of the eleven completed matches, currently ranking fifth among competing nations. Notably, Bangladesh and South Africa have played fewer Tests than Sri Lanka, reflecting a larger trend of unequal distribution of opportunities within the Test format. Mathews’ concerns are compounded by reports indicating that cricket’s so-called Big 3, along with the ICC, are contemplating a two-tier Test system to restructure the international Test landscape after the current championship cycle concludes.

The current International Cricket Council (ICC) Future Tours Program outlines the scheduled matches for various cricketing nations through upcoming years. As part of this program, Sri Lanka will see a significant reduction in Test format engagements, which has raised eyebrows among players and fans alike. Angelo Mathews, a seasoned player with a distinguished career, has highlighted this alarming trend, especially as Sri Lanka is set to participate in the fewest Test matches among their peers in the coming years. This reduction puts further spotlight on the challenges faced by the Sri Lankan cricket team, especially regarding their participation in the long-format game that requires consistent practice and competitive play for improvement and development.

Angelo Mathews’ concerns regarding the limited schedule of Test matches for Sri Lanka in 2025 underscore the broader challenges faced by the team in maintaining their competitive edge in international cricket. With only four Tests planned for the year and 13 ODIs and 12 T20Is, the emphasis on shorter formats has become pronounced. As discussions emerge regarding the restructuring of the Test format, the implications of these scheduling decisions continue to resonate throughout the cricketing community.

Original Source: www.dailymirror.lk

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