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COLOMBO: Sri Lankan all-rounder Angelo Mathews will be out of action for eight weeks due to an injury picked up during the World Cup, a setback which will shatter his lucrative IPL deal.
“I have pulled a muscle,” the 23-year-old said referring to a right-side strain he suffered while fielding during Tuesday's semi-final win against New Zealand.
“I am finding it difficult to walk, it will take about eight weeks to heal,” he told reporters in Colombo after the team arrived from Mumbai, following the six-wicket defeat to India in the World Cup final.
Saturday's loss was Sri Lanka's second successive runners-up finish, having lost to Australia in 2007. They won their first and only World Cup in 1996.
Injury also forced Mathews to miss Saturday's final, and he was replaced by off-spinner Suraj Randiv.
The lively medium-pacer, who is also a hard-hitting lower-order batsman, was due to play in the lucrative Indian Premier League that begins on April 8 in Chennai.
He clinched a $950,000 contract with Pune Warriors having previously played for Kolkota Knight Riders.
Mathews next international outing comes when Sri Lanka tour England from May to July to play three Test and five one-day matches.
