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Lasith Malingas Participation In T20 World Cup Highly Unlikely

Lasith Malinga's participation in T20 World Cup highly unlikely

Aryasekhar Chakraborty∙ May 17 2021, 3:26 PM

The return of legendary Lasith Malinga into international cricket has become a comedy of errors. After chief selector Pramodya Wickramasinghe’s remarking that Malinga was in their scheme of things for the premier tournament, the legendary fast bowler himself kept himself away from furthering any hopes of his return.

The chief selector of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board and the former fast bowler said that they have not received any clear reply from the former captain of the national team but contradicted himself soon after, “I spoke with Lasith Malinga and asked him if he is hoping to play in the T20 World Cup this year. He told me that he hasn’t played competitive cricket in about one and a half years.”

Despite Wickramasinghe reckoning Malinga as the best T20 player, chances of Malinga making the cut looks pretty bleak especially after the new guidelines set for players in order to be eligible for national selection.

Amongst various other tests, Sri Lanka players need to run 2 kms in 8 minutes and 30 seconds to pass a fitness test. Wickramasinghe said that he had a chat with Malinga informing him about the new selection policies.

“We know he is the best T20 player and his services are always very important. But all players are equal for us and we apply the same guidelines in selections,” Wickramasinghe was quoted as saying by Sri Lanka’s Daily News.

The new selection criteria laid down by Sri Lanka Cricket makes a player eligible for national selection only if he passes the new fitness tests besides playing in domestic cricket.

“I also told him that one should also be playing domestic cricket to be eligible for national selection. If Malinga can fulfil all these requirements, we will consider him for selection at that time,” Wickramasinghe said.

The star fast bowler who has already retired from franchise cricket had expressed his willingness to lead the side for the T2o World Cup back in November 2019. Back then, the T20 World Cup was originally slated to be played in Australia in October 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the postponement of the marquee event which has jolted his chances of playing one last World Cup.

While Malinga has indicated that his body might not permit him to take part in the World Cup, Wickramasinghe said that his answers lacked clarity.

“Malinga appreciated our selection policies and asked me to continue with them. However, Malinga did not give a clear response whether he intends playing in the T20 World Cup or not,” he said.

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