Five matches since he last made an appearance in the IPL, Angelo Mathews has resigned as the Pune Warriors captain for the season.
“I would like to confirm that I have decided to stand-aside as Pune Warriors franchise captain for the rest of the current season to ensure team leadership continuity,” Mathews said in a statement issued to the media prior to the start of Warriors’ home game against Royal Challengers Bangalore. “It is in our best interests that the captaincy is not switched frequently as we strive to achieve the best balanced team for each different opponent.”
Mathews was appointed the captain for the season after Michael Clarke, the Warriors’ first-choice leader, couldn’t join the squad due to recurrence of his back injury. Mathews had to be dropped for the Warriors’ game against Chennai Super Kings on April 15 since the IPL’s restrictions on not allowing Sri Lankan players to participate in the games played in Chennai.
Since then, Mathews has been unable to regain his place in the side. While Ross Taylor led the side in Chennai, he was dropped because, like Mathews, he was also going through a bad patch, despite the team’s victory in Chennai. Aaron Finch has led Warriors in the four successive losses since then.
Mathews hinted that despite the team’s slide to the bottom of the points table, Finch is expected to lead the side for the remaining six games.
“Given that Aaron (Finch) is likely to play in all our remaining games then it is logical that he continues to be our captain,” Mathews said. “I will naturally provide my fullest support at all times to Aaron and my team-mates. I will also continue to work as hard as possible as a player as we all strive to win our remaining matches.”
