Mathews will miss two Tests against Bangladesh

The National Selections Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket is set to meet on Tuesday to decide on a formidable team that would play the first two Tests against the Bangladesh tour of Sri Lanka 2017 which begins on March 7.

Accordingly it has been announced that Angleo Mathews will not be able to play the Test series, said a statement issued by Sri Lanka Cricket today.

"Mathews would likely be available to play the One-day International and T20 matches thereafter. Despite his absence, the selections committee is confident that the lessons learned from the South African series will help in putting together a formidable young team to take on the first two matches against the Bangladesh team", the statement also read.

The Sri Lanka captain picked up a hamstring injury in the second T20I against South Africa in Johannesburg and was forced to miss the following Twenty20 International series in Australia.

"I am bitterly disappointed with the outcome after meeting the doctors last night. Since returning home, the doctors in Colombo, who are in consultation with a specialist in the UK wanted to take a further look in four weeks time," Mathews told Cricbuzz. "I was told last night that it will now take a few more weeks. Now the target for me is somewhere during the one-day series. Let's see how the rehab goes. I am working on it.

"I twisted my ankle as well, but that's fine. The problem is with my hamstring," the skipper added.

According to the selection sources, it is believed that Rangana Herath will captain the side.

Dinesh Chandimal, who led the side in the final T20I against South Africa, was dropped for the One-Day International series. Upul Tharanga was then named the stand-in captain for the five-match ODI series before leading the side the to a 2-1 win in the T20I series in Australia.

Earlier in 2016, Angelo Mathews had missed the Zimbabwe tour after he tore his calf muscle during the fourth ODI against Australia in August, thus making way for Rangana Herath, who became the oldest Sri Lankan player to captain a Test side.