Would slinger Malinga be left in the lurch?
Now it all leads up to ‘Slinger Malinga’ will not be getting an official farewell from Sri Lanka Cricket. Lasith Malinga — the former captain of Sri Lanka’s T-20 segment will no more don the national ‘blue’ cap officially it seems.
A disappointed Lasith Malinga watching the proceedings of the second Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa sitting on the steps to the SLC headquarters
Sri Lanka’s chief cricket selector Graeme Labrooy says that farewells are not on in their framework anymore. When asked if the T-20 match between Sri Lanka and South Africa would be used to accord a farewell to the former fast bowler Lasith Malinga Labrooy said “Farewells are not in the SLC framework anymore. Sri Lanka Cricket has made this our policy, so a farewell match for Malinga is out under the present circumstances, because right now he is not engaged in International cricket.
“However if a cricketer is still in the International frame work it is a different story. For instance Rangana Herath who is still playing International Cricket decides to retire from International cricket, yes; we may be making it the opportunity to decide on a farewell when he is playing his last Test.”
Malinga with his unique hair style which gradually became an International craze, burst into the scene in 2004 against Australia in Australia as an off-beat low arm fast bowler of genuine speed. He wore his cap as a Test player on 30 occasions and finished with 101 wickets. In Limited Overs Cricket, Malinga bagged 301 wickets in 204 appearances.
It is in T-20 cricket that Malinga really made his mark. Besides leading Sri Lanka to the ICC T-20 World Championship in 2011, he also was an automatic choice for the Indian Premier League for many a year and was also known as the best bowler in the world in the shorter format of the game internationally. In 68 T-20 matches Malinga finished with 90 wickets.
However he fell out of favour with the custodians of the game in recent times and was gradually usurped out of contention.
Talking of his retirement he was quoted by the Times of India recently “Mentally I am over with playing cricket. I don’t think I will play anymore International Cricket. I am planning to announce my retirement soon”. Malinga said while he was engaged playing with the St. Moritz Ice Cricket Challenge when speaking to the Indian newspaper Times of India.
“I have not spoken to Sri Lanka Cricket, but, once I go back I will have to again go through the domestic grind, see how my body responds”.
Malinga returned to the island yesterday, after a series of matches in Canada. There it was speculated that Malinga, would make some sort of statement, but that did not happen.