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Sri Lanka news
Malinga rules out BBL participation
ESPNcricinfo staff
June 20, 2011
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News : Lasith Malinga gives up Test cricket
Players/Officials:
Lasith Malinga
Series/Tournaments:
Big Bash League
Teams:
Sri Lanka
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Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga has turned down offers to play Twenty20 cricket in South Africa and Australia - including the Big Bash League - in order to focus on his upcoming national limited-overs assignments.
"It would have been great fun to play in the new Big Bash," Malinga said, "but representing Sri Lanka remains my priority in the year ahead and I want to make sure I am as fit as possible." Malinga recently retired from Test cricket because of a long-standing knee problem. Four Australian and two South African franchises had reportedly expressed interest in signing on Malinga, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the IPL.
Australia tour Sri Lanka in August-September this year, where they will play two T20s and five ODIs ahead of the Test series. Sri Lanka then travel to South Africa where they play five ODIs in January next year before heading to Australia for the Commonwealth Bank series. The BBL is scheduled to begin in the middle of December.
"Lasith's had several expressions of interest to play T20 cricket for franchises in Australia and South Africa," Charlie Austin, Malinga's manager said, "but he wants to manage his workload carefully ahead of a busy winter for Sri Lanka including tours to South Africa and Australia.
"If he played in Australia he would be playing non-stop from mid-December to mid-March and that would be a risk given his degenerative knee condition.
Sri Lanka are currently touring England, where, after the completion of the ongoing Test series, they are scheduled to play five ODIs and one Twenty20 game. They then head to Scotland to play two ODIs againsts the hosts and Ireland
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Superb malinga.......country bofore everthing....!
Posted by Udendra on (June 21, 2011, 5:04 GMT)good decision Malinga. you're turning down a lot of money to play for the country.
Posted by Ellis on (June 20, 2011, 17:43 GMT)Roshan Rajapakse, I totally agree with your sentiments. Some of the off-the-wall comments made by so called SL supporters are beyond belief. Malinga, Mahela, Sangakkara, Samaraweera, have all been victims of quite irrational comments.Malinga has every right to protect his body and play to the extent it allows. To my mind, he has always given his best for SL when wearing his country's colours. So too Mahela, Sangakkara, Samaraweera and others who play for the team.Most SL fans are appreciative of effort by their own cricketers, and those of other countries. Sadly, a new breed of negativist supporters appears to be emerging. Happily, it is safe to predict there will be few of them.
Posted by achi82000 on (June 20, 2011, 15:58 GMT)Big bash pays only peanuts.So It's not worth all that effort and risk taken.
Posted byWell..i just saw you at the dressing room at Rose Bowl..you know what really came to my mind??? if you had bowled lesser number of spells either of previous tests and possibly in this one l you had a very good chance of destroying Cook's patience and picking up others when things are turning towards them...i never accept your retirement from test cricket..ten overs from you per a day is much more useful than any other regular bowler, because you are gifted with beauties. I believe you should consider about coming back and keep your mind wide open..you do not have to bowl longer spells..there are guys who can do that...the stand out weakness of Lions at this moment is the bowling, we do not have Murali or mysterious Mendis..Despite the dramatic collapse at Cardiff we could have drawn the whole series..but to win test match we need something special to take 20 wickets..i hope you would reconsider your retirement..
Posted by randika_ayya on (June 20, 2011, 15:23 GMT)Malinga was NOT a career cricketer. SLC discovered him, brought him to the pace bowling academy and constructed the bowler he is today. Of course he bit the hand that fed him, but hope he learns from his mistake and as SRI LANKANS we will give him another chance to correct himself and become a man from the boy he is today.
Posted by sanath007 on (June 20, 2011, 15:17 GMT)Proud Sri Lankan. Hats off Mali
Posted by PHANTOM-X on (June 20, 2011, 15:08 GMT)Great Decision Malinga....!!! This is called balancing priorities....
Posted bySome seriously stupid comments here.. he made it quite clear that his body cant take the work load a test match offers coz his body is not wat is was in the good old days..and its up to HIM to decide.. good thing, these stuff are not decided by a popularity poll..
Posted by StraightHit on (June 20, 2011, 14:07 GMT)Malinga is protecting his fragile body at this stage. He probably has about 2 yrs left in the game and is trying to fulfill his many obligations