Mathews: Senior players must take responsibility

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Cricket365
March 31, 2016

Sri Lanka's stand-in T20I captain Angelo Mathews conceded that the senior players in side have to take responsibility after they fell to another demoralising defeat against India in the Asia Cup on Tuesday.

The Sri Lankans are still struggling to turn over good results following the retirements of major players, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara.

Mathews, who is standing in as skipper for the rested Lasith Malinga, says although they have younger players in the group this is no time learn as the World T20 starts later this month.

Experienced players such as Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Mathews himself have failed to fire especially the batting side of the team.

Mathews said: "I am repeating myself every day. We have the team we have here; we are depending on a handful of seniors most of the time. If the seniors fail, we are in a spot of bother most of the time.

"Specially in a tournament like the Asia Cup and the World Cup you need a lot of seniors in the team. Unfortunately we haven't clicked. It will take a little time for the younger guys to start performing.

"We have to be patient, but this is not the right time to be patient.I think firstly that it's not just the seniors who have to perform. The selectors have picked a squad and everyone has to perform.

"This is a big stage and no one is here to learn. This is a stage where you have to perform. You can't rely on a handful of seniors.

"We just have to be positive. But I kind of sensed a positive approach in our batting today and that's how we have to play."

Sri Lanka will look to turn things around when they take on Pakistan in the Asia Cup on Friday.